Making biodiesel using jatropha oil?

Question

I have already made biodiesel successfully using fresh vegetable oil (homebrew). i tried using canola oil and the results were good. I am now trying using jatropha oil but I am experiencing problems when I try the same procedure just as I did with canola oil with the right measurements.:

When I heat the oil for 55 degrees celsius I should pour in the methoxide, usually from my experience the oil will start to thicken and then it will become thinner than original oil while I keep stirring. However with jatropha oil, after pouring methoxide in the oil, a reaction takes place and iwhite like soapy bubbles appear with the oil which I don't find normal. What should I do to prevent this from happening? Was 55 degrees c too much? What's the cause of this?

I just found out that what seems to be occurring is like the process of making soap using jatropha oil because the ingredients is oil water and NaOH although I used the process with making biodiesel with 3.5g NaOH, 200ml methanol and 1 liter of jatropha oil. Can you help me figure this out, I know jatropha oil can be used for biodiesel but how should I process it? Should I heat it at a certain temp. that it will be thin to avoid that reaction?

Answer 1

Wow, that's amazing!