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).