Biodiesel Production in Nigeria Using Cocoa Pod Ash as a Catalyst Base

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to ascertain the possibility of enhancing the activity of potash participatedfrom cocoa pod husk (CPH). A single promoted catalyst,CPH/MgO, was developed to be capable of promotingtransesterification reactions. For the production of the biodiesel from waste vegetable oil, the potash K 2 CO 3 fromCPH was first leached out and subsequently impregnated withMagnisium oxide and the green catalyst was supportedCPH/MgO. BET and X-ray diffraction were used tocharacterize the catalyst. The reactor used was fabricated andcoupled with a thermometer and a reflux unit having a 3litercapacity. During the transesterification reaction of waste oilon the prepared catalyst, after optimization of a 5hours refluxreaction, 35% K 2 CO 3 was required at 630 o C. However at 50 o Cof a 3hours reaction, the methanol: oil ratio of 50:1 wasobserved at the molar scale. The catalyst can be classified as asuitable catalyst for transesterification reactions with orwithout MgO loading. The supported catalyst was effectiveeven at lowest percentage loading of MgO. The impressive biodiesel yield was 94% indicative of an industrial breakthrough in the production of green heterogeneous basecatalyst for Nigeria economy.