The effects of high free fatty acids in feedstocks on biodiesel qualities was investigated in this study by carrying out homogenous and heterogeneous catalytic transesterification of 3.36 FFA Jatropha curcas seed oil with methanol. The catalysts used were NaOH and MgO, same methanol to oil molar ratio catalyst loading and reaction conditions. The reactions were carried out at 60oC for 60 minutes and 3:1 moles of methanol to oil. Methyl esters contents for homogenous products were satisfactory; 95.5%, 98.4%, 97.4% and 85.7% but poor viscosities 0.5 mm2/s, while heterogeneous products had low methyl esters contents;77.9%, 73.7%, 71.1% and 76.2% but had satisfactory viscosities of 3.5 mm2/s. The acid values in the products of the two processes were too high 0 to 12% for homogenous and 7.3% to 9.5% for heterogeneous. The products of two processes did not satisfactorily meet the EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards due to effect of the free fatty acids in the feedstock.

Full text: IJEIR_1712_Final.pdf