This work focuses on the development of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from high free
fatty acid (FFA) containing Jatropha curcas oil (JCO). Solid base and acid catalysts were prepared and
tested for transesterification in a batch reactor under mild reaction conditions. Mixtures of solid base and
acid catalysts were also tested for single-step simultaneous esterification and transesterification. More
soap formation was found to be the main problem for calcium oxide (CaO) and lithium doped calcium
oxide (LieCaO) catalysts during the reaction of jatropha oil and methanol than for the rapeseed oil (RSO).
CaO with Li doping showed increased conversion to biodiesel than bare CaO as a catalyst. La2O3/ZnO,
La2O3/Al2O3 and La0.1Ca0.9MnO3 catalysts were also tested and among them La2O3eZnO showed higher
activity. Mixture of solid base catalysts (CaO and LieCaO) and solid acid catalyst (Fe2(SO4)3) were found
to give complete conversion to biodiesel in a single-step simultaneous esterification and transesterification
process.