(800h) Systematic Evaluation of Jatropha Curcas L.Oil Obtention By Mechanical and Solvent Extraction

Systematic evaluation of Jatropha curcas L.oil obtention by mechanical and solvent extraction

Andrea Viviana Yate, Adriana Hernández Carrillo, Helmer Acevedo, Álvaro Orjuela, Paulo César Narváez

Abstract

Current biodiesel production relies mostly on edible oils (soybean, palm, rapeseed) which is a major drawback for the process as raw materials represent the major part of the final costs of the biofuel. This also brings out concerns about food and feed security. In the last years Jatropha curca L oil has obtained attention as an alternative oleochemical feedstock because it is a perennial crop able to produce up to 160 Gallon per hectare-year of a non-edible oil. Even though several authors have reported process conditions and yields on a variety of extraction methods for Jatropha oil, few of them present details on the overall process from the industrial standpoint, and also most of them do not assess the impact of the extraction process on the oil quality and its technical requirements for biodiesel production.

In this regard this work describes the development of a Jatropha oil production process involving mechanical and solvent extraction. The effect of mechanical extraction parameters such as speed of the screw, diameter and temperature of discharge, each one was analyzed on oil yield and saponification index as a quality parameter. Expeller power consumption and extraction efficiency were studied. In solvent extraction experiments it was evaluated the effect of the nature of solvent by using n-hexano, methanol and ethanol, the seed:solvent mass ratio 1:4, 1:6 and 1:8, and the particle size 1.15, 2.79 and 9.79mm on oil yield and oil properties (saponification index, humidity). The most favorable conditions of each extraction process were established.

An optimization study allowed establishing most favorable conditions for industrial processing involving mechanical extraction of the seeds and solvent extraction of the pressed cake. Oil obtained with this process was characterized and used for biodiesel production.