1H-NMR Monitoring of the transesterification process of Jatropha oil

Jatropha oil was extracted with hexane from the seeds of a shrub, Jatropha Curcas, in high yields, up to 40% by weight. The extracted oil was converted in a laboratory reactor to biodiesel methyl esters by transesterification with methanol using sodium hydroxide as catalyst. Analysis of Jatropha oil and the produced Jatropha biodiesel by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) showed that Jatropha oil could be readily converted to a biodiesel product through conventional transesterification. 1H NMR spectroscopy was proven to be a useful tool for monitoring the progress of transesterification reaction to convert Jatropha oil to biodiesel.

► Transesterification of Jatropha oil was monitored via the fate of hydrogen attached to glycerol carbons. ► Olefinic hydrogens were left unchanged during the transesterification process of Jatropha oil. ► NMR spectra of Jatropha oil, its corresponding methyl esters and intermediates products were differentiated by visual inspection of differences in peaks.