CONTENTS
PAGE
TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
CERTIFICATION………………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii
ACKNOWLEGDEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………….. iv
DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………………………………. v
CONTENT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. vi
LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………………………………. ix
LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………………… x
CHAPTER ONE…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
- INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
- Project statement……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
- Objectives………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
CHAPTER TWO………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………. 5
- Transesterification Process………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
- Homogeneous Catalyst…………………………………………………………………………. 9
- Transesterification Process………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
- Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats…………………………………………………………………………. 13
- Waste Cooking Oil…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
2.3.1 Alcohol……………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
- Variables Affecting the Transesterification Process………………………………………………… 15
- Moisture and Free Fatty Acids Contents………………………………………………………………. 15
- Molar Ratio of Alcohol to Oil and Type of Alcohol……………………………………………….. 15
- Type and Amount of Catalyst…………………………………………………………………………….. 16
- Characterization of FAME…………………………………………………………………………………. 16
- Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer………………………………………………………. 16
- Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry………………………………………………………………… 17
- X-Ray fluorescence……………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
- Scanning Electron Microscope……………………………………………………………………………… 17
CHAPTER THREE……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
- MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………… 18
- Materials and Reagents……………………………………………………………………………………… 18
- Equipment used…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18
- Waste Vegetable Oil Treatment………………………………………………………………………….. 18
- Catalyst Preparation…………………………………………………………………………………………… 19
- Catalyst Characterization……………………………………………………………………………………. 20
- Transesterification of Waste Vegetable Oil……………………………………………………………. 21
- Characterization of Waste Vegetable Oil and Methyl Ester……………………………………. 22
CHAPTER FOUR………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
- RESULT and DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………… 23
- Waste Vegetable Oil Characterization…………………………………………………………………. 23
- Catalyst Characterization…………………………………………………………………………………… 23
- X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis………………………………………………………………………………. 23
- Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis……………………………………………………………….. 24
- Fame Characterization……………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
- Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrophotometer Analysis………………………………………. 26
- Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer Analysis………………………………………………….. 28
- Determination of Biodiesel Yield………………………………………………………………………… 30
- Effect of Catalyst Concentration on Biodiesel Yield……………………………………………. 30
- Effect of Temperature on Biodiesel Yield……………………………………………………………. 31
- Effect of Reaction Time on Biodiesel Yield…………………………………………………………. 32
CHAPTER FIVE……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 33
5.0 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34
LIST OF FIGURES
| FIGURE | PAGE |
| 2.1 | Transesterifications reaction of triglyceride……………………………………………. 8 |
| 3.1 | Waste vegetable oil sample……………………………………………………………….. 19 |
| 3.2 | Raw eggshell preparation to catalyst……………………………………………………. 20 |
| 3.3 | Produced biodiesel……………………………………………………………………………. 21 |
| 4.1 | SEM image of raw egg……………………………………………………………………… 24 |
| 4.2 | Calcined eggshell at 900 0C for 3hr……………………………………………………. 25 |
| 4.3 | Eggshell washed and re-calcined at 600 0C for 3hr………………………………. 25 |
| 4.4 | FTIR Analysis of Waste Vegetable Oil………………………………………………. 27 |
| 4.5 | FTIR Analysis of FAME at 5 wt. % catalyst………………………………………… 27 |
| 4.6 | GC – MS with data band matching number……………………………………….. 29 |
| 4.7 | GC – MS image without data band matching number…………………………. 29 |
| 4.8 | A Graph of Yield vs Catalyst weight…………………………………………………. 31 |
| 4.9 | A Graph of yield vs Reaction Temperature…………………………………………. 31 |
| 4.10 | A Graph of Yield vs Time of Reaction……………………………………………….. 32 |
TABLE PAGE
- Comparison of the Standards for Diesel and Biodiesel Based On (ASTM)…………………….. 6
- Different Heterogeneous Catalysts Used For Transesterification of Vegetable Oils……. 11
- Comparison of Homogeneous and Heterogeneously Catalyzed Transesterification……… 12
- Main Production Facilities of Methanol and Ethanol……………………………………………….. 15
- Physiochemical Properties of Waste Vegetable Oil……………………………………………………….. 23
- XFR Analysis of Raw eggshell in weight percentage……………………………………………………… 24
- GC – MS breakdown of methyl esters into their various components……………………………. 28
- Biodiesel yield at varied parameters…………………………………………………………………………… 30
INTRODUCTION
Background
Biodiesel has tremendously gained popularity because it is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. It is a major key component in the motor diesel engines today because of their attractive features. It represents a largely closed carbon dioxide cycle (approximately 78%), as it is derived from renewable biomass sources. Compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel has lower emission of pollutants, it is biodegradable and enhances the engine lubricity (Kurki et al., 2006).
Biodiesel has a higher cetane number than diesel fuel, no aromatics, no sulfur, and contains 10– 11% oxygen by weight (Canakci, 2007). It can be easily synthesized through transesterification of oil or esterification of fats using basic or acidic catalysts with heating functions (Khemthong et al., 2012).
Chemically, biodiesel is a mixture of methyl esters with long-chain fatty acids and is typically made from transesterification reaction of biological triglyceride sources such as vegetable oil with alcohol in the presence of catalyst such as sodium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium hydroxide, and potassium methoxide (Meher et al., 2006). The major reason that vegetable oils is transesterified to methyl esters (biodiesel) is that the kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel is much closer to that of petro-diesel. The high viscosity of untransesterified oils and fats leads to operational problems in the diesel engine such as deposits on various engine parts.
Numerous feedstock have been experimented for biodiesel production. Though oil straight from the agricultural industry represents the greatest potential source, it is not being produced
commercially simply because the oil is too expensive. After the cost of converting it to biodiesel has been added it, it will be too expensive to compete with fossil diesel.
Subsequently, this work intends to investigate the transesterification of triglycerides, using waste vegetable oil and raw eggshell as cost effective and eco-friendly catalyst.
Problem Statement
Commercial production technology of biodiesel via homogenous transesterification has a lot limitation, making the cost of biodiesel production economically unfeasible.
Waste eggshell-environmental nuisance, medium for growth of microorganism, aside odor. Waste vegetable oil constitutes an environmental concern
Research Aim and Objectives
- Aim
The aim of this project is to produce a solid catalyst from waste eggshell that can be used as catalyst in the transesterification of waste frying oil to biodiesel.
Objectives
- To synthesize and characterize catalyst from waste eggshell
- To study the feasibility of waste vegetable oil as alternative feedstock in the transesterification process.
- To characterize the product from the transesterification process (FAME)
- To study and optimize the transesterification of waste vegetable oil using eggshell based catalyst under a range of operating parameters (reaction temperature, reaction time, ratio of oil/methanol and amount of catalyst)
Justification of Study
The increase in pollutants emissions from the use of petroleum fuel affects human health as well as the environments. Both the energy needs and increased environmental consciousness have stimulated the researching of an alternative fuel. Also, the recent research developments in the exploitation of biodiesel especially in Nigeria and the rest of Africa provides a reliable platform for adoption of biodiesel as an alternative energy source. The following could be key reasons to adopt and promote biodiesel production and research;
- It reduces the country’s dependence on imported petroleum.
- It is renewable and contributes less to global warming than petroleum fuel due to its closed carbon cycle. The primary feedstock is cheap and readily available such as used cooking oil and non-edible oil.
- It provides good engine performance and can be used without engine modification.
- It provides a market for excess production of vegetable oils and animal fats, thus enhancing the rural economies.
- it is biodegradable and non-toxic
- It exhibits lower combustion profile, especially Sulphur
- Ready Market for Biodiesel especially in Nigeria
Scope of Study
To achieve the objective of this research, the listed scopes have been identified
- Preparation of activated egg shell as a solid catalyst.
- Production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil using activated egg shell as a catalyst in batch system.
- Optimizing the selected parameter for biodiesel production (temperature, catalyst weight and reaction time).
- Identifying the effect of the temperature, reaction time, and catalyst weight on biodiesel yield.