PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM SHEA NUT OIL BY SUPERCRITICAL TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESS
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the optimization of the production of biodiesel from shea
nut oil using supercritical transesterification process. Response surface methodology
(RSM) was adopted using Box Benhken Design (BBD). Biodiesel production was
conducted in a mini batch reactor placed under a constant temperature magnetic stirrer.
Optimization was studied with three factors with randomized variables which include
temperature, time, and methanol to oil mole ratio. Results obtained revealed shea nut
oil contained 0.92% Free Fatty Acid (FFA). The models predicting the experimental
parameters were significant with a probability values (p-value) of 0.0001. The optimum
condition for each factor concentration were reaction temperature 206.93oC, reaction
time 18.22minutes, and methanol to oil ratio 25.6. These conditions would produce
shea nut oil biodiesel to a yield of 95.68wt%. Shea nut oil therefore is an effective
feedstock for biodiesel production and reaction time, temperature, as well as methanol
to oil mole ratio are significant factors in the optimization of transesterification reaction
of shea nut oil with methanol.
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