ABSTRACT

 In this studs, process parameters for the production of biodiesel from neem seed oil using raw and thermally activated egg shells were optimized and analyzed using randomized optimal design. The design was a response surface method (full fractional factorial) which identified the various design points as being numerical and discrete. This process optimization was performed by varying five factors, each at two different levels. The process parameters: methanol to oil mola! ratio (mol/mol), catalyst concentration (weight %), reaction temperature (°c), reaction time (minutes) and agitation Speed (revolution per minutes, rpm) were the input factors (independent variables) while the biodiesel yield (% vol/vol) was the output/response (dependent variable) in the optimization process. Following the designed matrix, 3D (three dimensional) surface plots, contour plots and analysis of variance (ANOVA), using Design Expert Software (version 12.0). the optimum biodiesel yield was predicted to ascertain the interactive effects of parameters. The correlating regression coefficient indicates the satisfactory performance of the model for both raw and thermally activated egg shells. The actual (experimental) maximum optimal biodiesel yield for the biodiesel production from neem seed oil using the raw egg shell and the thermally activated egg shells as catalysts was 78.30 and 87.10% v/v while the predicted maximum biodiesel yield was 76.52 and 84.98% v/v. respectively. Set of conditions that caused these positive effects were established at methanol/oil molal ratio of 8:1, catalyst concentration of 2% wt., temperature of 80°c, reaction time of 90 minutes and agitation speed of 350 rpm respectively. These results showed agreement between the actual and the predicted biodiesel yield. It can be concluded that the best biodiesel yield can be achieved using thermally activated egg shell.