Optimization of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcus oil by transesterification

India is looking at renewable alternative fuel sources to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. In the present study, different variation of methanol 20 %, 18 %, and 22 % sodium hydroxide 1 %, 0.75 % and 1.2 % reaction time 120, 70 and 90 minute and reaction temperature 40 0 C, over adapted in order to optimize the experimental condition for maximum ester yield from alkali-catalyzed transesterification of Jatropha curcus oil. The preliminary studies recorded that the methyl ester yield varied widely in the range of 86 to 92 % in the laboratory scale production reactor.