| 1.  | Function  | :  | Production of  biodiesel from vegetable oils  | 
              
                | 2.  | Specification  | :  | 
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 | i. Capacity  | :  | 250 kg oil/day  | 
              
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 | ii. Command    area required  | :  | 25 ha  | 
              
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 | iii. Biodiesel    production  | :  | 250 L/day  | 
              
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 | iv. Glycerol    production  | :  | 55 kg/day  | 
              
                | 3.  | General Information  | :  | Biodiesel is produced from Jatropha oil by    converting the triglycerides into methyl esters with a process known as    transesterification.  The Jatropha oil is blended with methyl alcohol and catalyst mixture, which is kept at    reaction temperature for specific duration under agitation and sent to the    settling tank. The ester is collected and washed to get pure biodiesel.  The pilot    plant consists of reaction vessel with heating and agitating device, catalyst    mixing vessel, settling tanks and washing tank.    | 
              
                | 4.  | Cost of the unit (approx)  | :  | Rs. 1,50,000  | 
              
                | 5.  | Cost of operation  | :  | Rs.3/L of diesel (excluding the    cost of Jatropha oil)  | 
              
                | 6.  | Salient features  | :  | 
                  
                    
                      |   | About      250 litres of biodiesel can be produced per day from vegetable oils or tree      seed oils.  |  
                      |   | Glycerol (by-product), can      be used further in soap making or in chemical industries.  |  |