ABSTRACT

 In this study, biodiesel from neem seed oil was produced and characterized using raw and thermally activated egg shells as citalysts through transesterification process. The biodiesel was transeterified to determine the effects of process parameters (catalyst concentration, reaction time, reaction temperae methanol/sp1e molal ratio and agitation speed) in the production of the biodiesel in other to establish the optimum conditions required to achieve maximum yield. The catalysts were applied at varied concentration ranges from 0.50 to 2.50%, with a temperature of 70°C, methanol/sample molal ratio of 10:1, reaction time of 120 minutes and an agitation speed of 300rev/min respectively. The fuel physio-chemical properties of both the raw bio-oil and the biodiesel were characterized and determined to ascertain if they met the required recommended standards. From the characterization results obtained, it was revealed that thermally activated eggshell catalyst was better suited for biodiesel production than the raw eggshell. The thermally activated egg shell sample had higher, better surface area and a H value closer to neutral, while the ash content was lesser compared to the raw sample. The bulk density and moisture content in the thermally activated sample with lower values than the raw sample as high moisture content in the thermally activated sample with lower yield as high moisture content will interfere with the production. Generally, from the experimental investigations and characterization results, the values of the obtained properties will assist biodiesel developers to produce future generation fuels that will outlive petroleum-based fossil fuels especially the petro-diesel fuel.