Abstract:
Biodiesel, a promising substitute as an alternative
fuel has gained significant attention due to the
predicted shortness of conventional fuels and envir
onmental concern. The utilization of liquid fuels s
uch
as biodiesel produced from Jatropha oil by transest
erification process represents one of the most
promising options for the use of conventional fossi
l fuels. The Jatropha oil is converted into jatroph
a oil
methyl ester known as biodiesel prepared in the pre
sence of homogeneous acid catalyst. The physical
properties such as density, flash point, Kinematic
viscosity, Cloud point and Pour point were found ou
t
for Jatropha oil and Jatropha methyl ester. The sam
e characteristics study was also carried out for th
e
diesel fuel for obtaining the base line data for an
alysis. The values obtained from the Jatropha methy
l
ester is closely matched with the values of convent
ional diesel and can be used in the existing diesel
engine without any modification.
Key words
: jatropha oil, transesterification, biodiese