By FATIMA MOHAMMED-LAWAL

Prof. Temitope Odetoye of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, has successfully produced biodiesel, using chicken eggshell-derived heterogeneous catalyst.

Odetoye made this known in Ilorin while delivering the 253^rd Inaugural Lecture of the university.

The lecture was entitled: “Symphony of Biomass, Bioenergy and Bioproducts for Sustainability”.

She said: “The trans esterification experiment was based on a two-factor, three-level central composite design, while catalyst concentration and reaction time were considered the factors which had significant effects on the yield of biodiesel.”

Odetoye, who lectures in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology of the university, said that the yield showed that eggshell was an affordable potential catalyst source for biodiesel production.

According to her, utilisation of eggshells can add value to poultry production process and minimise wastes in the poultry industry.

The lecturer said that biodiesel had been considered one of the sustainable fuel alternatives.

She, however, noted that high production cost of biodiesel, compared to fossil fuel, remained one of the major drawbacks in biodiesel production.

Odetoye defined biofuel as fuel made from biomass.

“Biofuel is synonymous with biocrude, biodiesel, biooil, biogas, bioethanol, biosyngas and bioslurry fyels,” she said.

The expert In chemical engineering submitted that Nigeria was endowed with abundant lignocellulosic biomass residues waiting to be harnessed in more environmentally-friendly ways.

She said that open burning of biomass residues had led to pollution of the environment, especially in dry season.

According to Odetoye, biomass waste pyrolysis is a potential means of converting waste to wealth and will create opportunities for skilled engineers and technicians.

She added that it would make the environment cleaner. (NAN)

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