Optimum Biodiesel Production from African Oil Bean Seed Oil Using Antelope Bones and Africa Oil Bean Seed Pod as Catalyst: RSM and ANN as Optimization Tools

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalyst developed from antelope bones and African oil bean seed pod was used for the production of biodiesel from African oil bean seed oil (AOBSO) characterized by 2.22% free fatty acid (FFA) via transesterification reaction. Characterization showed that the catalyst had high surface area (40.65m2 /g) and large pore diameter (50.85 ?) with CaO being its main constituent. Four independent process variables were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The optimization result revealed that a maximum biodiesel yield of 93.25% was achieved using RSM at an optimum condition of temperature (60oC), time (86 minutes), methanol:oil ratio (12:1) and catalyst loading (2 wt.%). Also, using ANN modelling, an optimum yield of 95% was obtained at a temperature, time, methanol:oil ratio and catalyst loading of 57oC, 57 minutes, 7.5:1 and 1 wt.% respectively. The result shows that ANN was better tool at modelling the process because of its higher R2 value and lower RMSE value. Also, the high yield of biodiesel obtained showed that African oil bean seed oil (AOBSO) which is a low-cost feedstock have the potential to be used for biodiesel production.