ABSTRACT

Renewable oils from biomaterials are now acknowledged as having the potential to provide for alternative fuels (biodiesel) and interest in the use of biofuels worldwide has grown strongly in recent years due to the limited oil reserves, concerns about climate change from greenhouse gas emissions and the desire to promote domestic rural economies. At present, biodiesel is mainly produced from conventionally grown edible oils such as soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, and palm. On the other hand, extensive use of edible oils for biodiesel production may lead to food crisis. The cost of biodiesel is the main obstacle to commercialization of the product. Biodiesel produced from edible oils is currently not economically feasible which calls for more exploration for under utilized edible seeds the African oil bean seed. This work is on the effect of pre-treatment method technique (drying) on oil recovery from oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth)  for biodiesel production which was investigated. Samples were drawn from the different stages during the treatment (namely; oven dry at 500C, 600C and 700C at an hour interval, solar drying and Open sun drying). Solvent extraction process using normal hexane was used to extract oil from the various product and there physiochemical properties: saponification value, Peroxide value, Acid value , Iodine value , Specific gravity, color were analyzed and compared to CODEX standard. The oil was further used in acid-catalyzed esterification and alkaline transeterification for biodiesel production and the effects of temperature, catalyst concentration,feedstock to methanol molar ratio, and reaction time on biodiesel conversion were investigated. By using a feedstock to methanol molar ratio of 1:6 and a sulfuric acid concentration of 0.8%, a biodiesel conversion of 81% was obtained after 6 h of reaction at 500C. The biodiesel produced by this process met the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard