Abstract:
This engineering project was aimed to use ultrasonic assisted synthesis of methyl ester for biodiesel production from Jatropha oil and to optimize biodiesel production by studying the effects of molar ratios of Jatropha oil to methanol, and reaction temperature with a reaction time of 180 minutes. The optimum condition was molar ratios of Jatropha oil to methanol at 1:6 and
temperature at 60°C. The percentage of conversion and yield were 93.20 and 76.02. respectively. Then, a study of the effect on the irradiation time by comparison between using ultrasonic assisted synthesis and conventional process under the optimum condition. It has been observed that both methods gave similar conversion. However, ultrasonic method could reduce reaction
time from 180 to 60 minutes.