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Abstract
This study reports on a novel two-step process for biodiesel production consisting
of hydrolysis of oils in sub-critical water and subsequent supercritical dimethyl
carbonate esterification. This process found to occur optimally at the sub-critical
water treatment (270 degrees Celsius/27 MPa) for 25 min followed by a subsequent supercritical
dimethyl carbonate treatment (300 degrees Celsius/9 MPa) for 15 min to achieve a comparably
high yield of fatty acid methyl esters, at more than 97 wt%. In addition, the fatty
acid methyl esters being produced satisfied the international standard specifications
for use as biodiesel fuel. This new process for biodiesel production offers milder
reaction condition (lower temperature and lower pressure), non-acidic, non-catalytic
and applicable to feedstock with high amount of free fatty acids such as crude Jatropha
curcas oil.
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