Castor Oil Methanolysis with Potassium Carbonate in Ammonium Hydroxide as a Catalyst

Abstract

In the present work methyl esters (Biodiesel) of Castor oil was synthesized by refluxing oil with methanol and Potassium carbonate in ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) catalyst. The reaction conditions were optimized. Maximum yield of 97.6% methyl esters was obtained under the reaction conditions of 10:1 methanol to oil molar ratio at 50^oC for a refluxing period of 3hrs using 1.8g of  Potassium carbonate in  conc. ammonium hydroxide(1:2.5 catalyst to NH₄OH molar ratio) as a catalyst.¹HNMR spectral characterization of methyl esters was carried out. Physiochemical properties of biodiesel was tested and compared with ASTM standards. All the values are within the range of ASTM standards.