ABSTRACT

Biodiesel has been generally accepted as an environmentally – safer alternative to fossil-based fuels. However, concerns of the cost of production, use of acid catalysts leading to corrosion, and recovery of homogenous catalyst remain. This study therefore seeks to optimize the acid value of process parameters in the conversion of jatropha oil using waste Tympanotonus fuscatus shell (WTFS). The catalysts were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and BET. Temperatures ranging from 30°C to 90°C, catalyst loading, and reaction durations of 1hour were examined for the transesterification technique. The physiochemical properties of the Jatropha oil revealed a high acid value (18.036mgKOH/g), FFA (9.018mgKOH/g) viscosity of 20.9mpas @ 29.1℃, pour point, 156℃, flash point of 104℃, Calorific value of 39.65 MJ/kg. The biodiesel however showed an acid value of 11.03 MGk OH/g, viscosity of 4.638 mm2/s, calorific value of 40.17 MJ/kg which were in agreement with the EU and American standards. Box Behnken approach used to design the experiments was significant (p <0.0001) and the biodiesel synthesis which resulted in a maximum yield of 91.70% was obtained, 60minutes - 90minutes of reaction time, a constant temperature of 60℃, and a 1:6 oil–Methanol ratio. Temperature, reaction time Methanol to oil ratio, catalyst concentration all had significant effects on biodiesel yield. However, temperature had a stronger influence than the other process variables. The biodiesel produced met the biodiesel standards.