Statistical approach was employed to optimize biodiesel production from sesame oil in this work. Precisely, response surface methodology was applied, and the effects of four variables, viz. reaction temperature, catalyst amount, reaction time, and methanol/oil molar ratio, and their reciprocal interactions were determined. Central composite rotatable design was used to generate a total of 30 individual experiments, which were designed to study the effects of these variables during alkali-catalyzed methanolysis of sesame oil. A statistical model predicted the highest conversion yield of sesame biodiesel to be 99.71% at the following optimized variable conditions: reaction temperature of 63°C, catalyst amount of 1.04 wt.%, and methanol/oil molar ratio of 6.24, with a reaction time of 51.09 min. Using these variables under experimental condition in four independent replicates, an actual biodiesel yield of 98.36% was accomplished. The fuel properties of biodiesel produced were found to be within the ASTM D6751 and DIN EN 14214 biodiesel specifications.

Aims: This study was aimed at separating seed oil from sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) oilseeds using application of solvent extraction method. The process was optimized using response surface methodology and the quality of the seed oil was determined. Methodology: Optimization of oil extraction from the oilseeds using response surface methodology was carried out. The effects of three independent factors (extraction time, solvent volume and sample weight) and their respective interactions on the response, oil yield, were investigated. A total of 17 experimental runs were generated using Box-Behnken design. The extracted seed oil was characterized to determine its quality. Results: A quadratic polynomial was obtained to predict the oil yield and the ANOVA test showed the developed model to be significant (P < 0.05). A statistical model predicted the maximum seed oil yield to be 18.25% at the optimal condition of sample weight, 22g, solvent volume, 157 ml and time, 2 h. The optimized condition was validated with the actual oil yield of 17.85%, which was well within the range predicted. The seed oil analysis showed the physical state of the oil to be liquid/yellow-greenish in colour, specific gravity 0.886 ± 0.026, viscosity (at 40ºC) 15.40 cP, p-anisidine value 6.31, Totox number 16.31, %FFA 0.40 ± 0.01, acid value 0.80 ± 0.01 mg KOH.g oil -1 , saponification value 197.75 ± 0.05 mg KOH.g oil -1 , iodine value 97.77 ± 0.02 g I 2 .100 g oil -1 , peroxide value 5.00 ± 0.01 meq O 2 .kg oil -1 and cetane number 51.90 ± 0.1. The fatty acid profile of the oil revealed

In 2015, the Worldatlas recorded 50 countries whose source of income is fossil fuel and its derivatives. Surprisingly, these countries solely depend on this source of energy up to 100% (Omar, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) because of technology improvement. It's so sadden that apart from its adverse effect on the economics of the countries, fossil fuels harmful effects on the universe cannot be overlooked. Meanwhile, the use of renewable energy as a replacement for fossil fuel and its derivatives are faced by the high oil price, high cost of investment for alternative energy, and unfathomed electricity prices. This research work evaluates desirability of making use of alternative source of energy sources by making use of biomass oil over the use of fossil fuel and its derivatives for electricity generation.Lucky nut is an agricultural non edible seed that was employed as raw material for biofuel production. The non-edible oil was extracted from the seeds and the oil was further converted to Lucky nut biofuel via a heterogeneous based catalyst produced from calcinated pearl spar. For modelling and optimization, design expert coupled with genetic algorithms were used to generate experimental designs so as to correlate the variable factors considered for production.The extraction of Lucky nut seed revealed the optimum production yield of 50.80% (v/v) and the oil is highly unsaturated. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer analyses and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the calcined catalyst obtained from pearl spar showed the major component found in the pearl spar was K with relative abundance of 58.48%, which favoured the yield of Lucky nut biodiesel (91.00% (v/v)). Based on predicted values, the optimum validated Lucky nut biodiesel by RSMED and ANNED were 89.68% (v/v) and 92.87% (v/v), respectively. Produced properties of biofuel conformed to the biofuel standard.The study concluded that Lucky nut seed is a good source of oil, and its transformation to alternative fuel via a using calcined catalyst proved its fitness as a replacement for fossil fuel.

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