Development of Jatropha Oil Extraction From Biodiesel Feedstocks Using Accelerated Solvent Extraction

The determination of oil content in biodiesel feed stocks can be performed using several methods, including mechanical press, solvent extraction, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. It is important to ensure that the determination of feedstock oil content is universally accepted so as to obtain results that can be compared with those reported from alternate sources. The European Norm (EN) has specified two methods for the determination of oil content in oil seed crops: conventional Soxhlet extraction and NMR imaging.  These methods have several disadvantages. Both are time, labor, and cost intensive, and both require highly skilled labor and a significant amount of sample. These methods are also unfriendly to the environment.  The use of Accelerated Solvent Extraction has great potential to overcome these constraints. Furthermore, it also has a high potential for application to oil-content testing of the third generation of biodiesel feedstocks (e.g., microalgae).  In this paper we will present the extraction of oil from Jatropha seeds in compliance with accuracy and reproducibility requirements described in the EN method.  We will also explore the impact of changes to the extraction parameters on the percentage of oil extracted,.  The optimum conditions for oilseed extraction, and the minimum amount of oilseeds required per test are also investigated.