Preparation and Characterisation of Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas Seed Oil in Niger State

Nigeria's increasing demand for energy, coupled with the environmental drawbacks of fossil fuel combustion, has stimulated interest in biodiesel as a renewable and cleaner alternative fuel derived from non-edible oil crops such as Jatropha curcas. This study prepared biodiesel from Jatropha curcas seed oil obtained from plantations in Niger State and characterised the product against ASTM and EN biodiesel standards. Seeds were solvent-extracted to yield crude oil, which was then refined and transesterified using methanol and sodium hydroxide catalyst at a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1. The biodiesel product was separated, washed, and dried, then characterised for density, kinematic viscosity, flash point, cloud point, pour point, acid value, iodine value, calorific value, copper strip corrosion, and cetane number. Biodiesel yield was 91.3 percent by weight. Kinematic viscosity at 40 degrees Celsius was 4.2 mm2/s, within the EN 14214 specification of 3.5 to 5.0 mm2/s. Flash point exceeded 120 degrees Celsius, satisfying the minimum standard. Acid value was 0.28 mg KOH/g, below the maximum permissible value. Calorific value was 39.2 MJ/kg, comparable to mineral diesel. The prepared biodiesel met all tested ASTM and EN standards, confirming Jatropha curcas as a technically suitable feedstock for biodiesel production in Niger State. The availability of marginal and arid land suitable for Jatropha cultivation in the North Central zone supports the development of a local biodiesel industry.

Keywords: biodiesel, Jatropha curcas, transesterification, renewable energy, Niger State