EDHOR ONOME PRINCESS

This study explored the optimization of the microwave aided biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using a bio-waste catalyst derived from clamshell and cocoa pods via the Taguchi Optimization Approach.The bio-waste catalyst was synthesized by the carbonization and sulphuration of cocoa pods to produce an acid precursor, while clam shells was calcined and treated with KOH to create the basic precursor. Both precursors were then impregnated using the wet-impregnation method. The bi-functional catalyst produced was characterized using standard techniques to establish its catalytic potency.Characterization involved SEM,EDXRF,XRD,FTIR,BET/BJH techniques and GCMS for the oil and biodiesel .Also, a model was developed to simulate the process and examine the interactive effect of process input variables on Waste cooking oil(WCB)yield using the Taguchi L16 approach. A reusability test was used to evaluate the catalyst's commercial viability by analyzing its effects on WCB yield and Acid Value. This test was carried out over five consecutive runs with the catalyst cleaned using methanol and reused, based on the optimal circumstances. The BET analysis showed the catalyst to have a BET surface area of 393.3 m2/g, Pore volume and diameter 0.02349 cm3/g and 2.421 nm, respectively and the average micropore size calculated to be 5.520 nm in width and 0.1785 cc/g in volume, while the micropore surface area found to be 502.1 m2/g. From the XRF result it is seen that calcium oxide has 68.431% followed by phosphorous pentoxide which contains 13.527% .The best combination of the input variables determined for the process is a heating power of 600W, methanol:WCO of 15:1, time of 5 min,v reaction speed of 1000rpm and Catalyst loading of 2 wt% with an optimum WCB yield of 92.737 wt.% and AV of 0.408 mg KOH/g. It was shown that the WCB yield was significantly influenced by the reaction time, reaction speed,power of the reaction and the methanol to oil molar ratio but the catalystloading, reaction speed, power of reaction and reaction time were the factors that had the biggest influence on the AV of the WCB.The WCB produced met standard specifications for biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 requirements.Applying a microwave to the WCO transesterification helped to speed up the reaction's completion.The study found that clam shells and cocoa pods are viable feedstock for low-cost, environmentally friendly biodiesel manufacturing