Potential of Waste Vegetable Oil for Biodiesel in Nigeria

Based on the alarming level of the problems associated with non-renewable energy sources, the critical effects of global warming and the need to curb environmental pollutions, there is now a shift of emphasis on serene renewable energy sources. Waste Vegetable Oil which refers to vegetable oil that has been used in food production and is no longer viable for its intended use is a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. The cost of production of biodiesel is high compared to conventional diesel fuel. However, it is cheaper to produce biodiesel from waste vegetable oil than pure vegetable oil. The conversion of waste vegetable oil to biodiesel using the acid esterification process followed by alkali transesterification in the laboratory and the subsequent determination of physicochemical properties of about four different blends of the produced biodiesel are undertaken in this study. The B100, having a percentage yield of about 95% with a density of 0.89 g/cm3, sulfur content of 2.30ppm, cloud, pour and flash points of 5ºC, 4ºC , 164ºC respectively; and viscosity of 4.7 mm2/sec at the temperature of 40ºC as the standard for biodiesel specification was obtained. The other blends performed reasonably well as the results lowered along with the composition. This study is therefore, necessary for new and existing Fast Food Companies, restaurant, hotel and biodiesel manufacturing companies to make decisions on ways of exploring the opportunities made available by the continual generation of waste vegetable oil as a result of the increasing population of Nigeria coupled with the resultant need for survival.