Biodiesel production from Sterculia striata oil by ethyl transesterification method

摘要: Abstract Biodiesel is an alternative to fossil fuels. Its industrial production relies on vegetable oil transesterification with a short-chain ethanol using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the catalyst. The growing demand for biofuels has motivated studies new sources. Sterculia striata (Chicha) seeds are particularly interesting in this sense—their mass consists of about 40% oil, so it possible convert them into biodiesel high yield. Hence, manuscript aimed investigate how process variables affect from chicha oil. Application factorial design technique aided analysis four variables: temperature (30–70 °C), oil/alcohol molar ratio (1:6–1:10), catalyst amount (0.5–1.5% w/w), and reaction time (0.5–2.0 h). resulting met most standard requirements; however, its density lay above values established by Brazilian petroleum agency. Considering evaluated best conditions were temperature = 30 °C, ratio = 1:10, 1.5% relation (w/w), time = 30 min.