Modeling and optimization of transesterification of Jatropha oil to fatty acid methyl ester: application of response surface methodology (CCD) and Taguchi orthogonal method.

The study effectively optimized the transesterification process of Jatropha oil to fatty acid methyl ester using response surface methodology (CCD) and Taguchi orthogonal method, leading to enhanced efficiency and product quality. The optimization of five process parameters was conducted to predict the biodiesel yield (%) from the transesterification of Jatropha oil. The procedure was made easier with the use of a nanocatalyst made from calcium oxide obtained from snail shells using the hydrothermal technique. The RSM approach yielded an optimal FAME of 94.10% under specific conditions: a methanol to oil ratio of 5 : 1, catalyst weight of 1.5 w/w, reaction temperature of 50 °C, reaction duration of 45 minutes, and an agitation speed of 250 rpm across 32 experimental trials. On the other hand, the Taguchi method predicted a higher FAME yield of 86.36% using specific operational parameters. These parameters included a methanol to oil ratio of 4 : 1, catalyst weight of 0.5 w/w, reaction temperature of 60 °C, reaction duration of 25 minutes, and an agitation speed of 200 rpm. These parameters were determined through 16 experimental trials. The RSM technique yielded impressive results with a determined coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.9943, adjusted R 2 of 0.9838, predicted R 2 of 0.8470, and a coefficient of variance (CV) of 0.65. On the other hand, the Taguchi method had coefficients of 0.8994, 0.7483, and 1.95. The FAME yield of RSM was slightly higher, but the Taguchi method was much more cost-efficient. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the methanol to oil ratio had the highest influence on the yield, accounting for 49.61% of the variation. This highlights the significant impact of this factor on the overall process. The study highlights the significance of utilizing advanced techniques such as TOA and RSM, which are known for their effectiveness. The study aims to enhance the yield and efficiency of the transesterification process, thereby increasing the overall production of fatty acid methyl ester from Jatropha oil. This innovative approach efficiently generates biodiesel from renewable resources, like Jatropha oil, in a manner that is both environmentally friendly and maximizes the effectiveness of the process parameters.