Sustainable biodiesel production from jatropha: Optimization, characterization and life cycle assessment

Abstract

Biodiesel derived from Jatropha curcas presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels due to its non-edible nature and suitability for marginal lands. To improve both yield and environmental performance, this study investigates an innovative two-step ultrasound-assisted biodiesel production process combined with Taguchi optimization. Key parameters including oil-to-methanol molar ratio, reaction time, and catalyst dosage were optimized using the Taguchi method, while a laboratory-scale Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using the ReCiPe Midpoint 2016 method. Under optimized reaction conditions, a biodiesel yield of 91.2% was achieved, with a methyl ester content of 97.8%, satisfying EN 14214 standards. LCA results revealed that the transesterification step was the main contributor to environmental impacts, notably climate change and toxicity. This study highlights a scalable and environmentally friendly approach to biodiesel production, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).