Elijah Olawale Ajala, Folorunso Aberuagba, Adesoji Matthew Olaniyan, Mary Adejoke Ajala, Musiliu Olushola Sunmonu and Michael Mayokun Odewole

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2018.132

pp. 1066 - 1075

Abstract

This study developed a mini-scale batch reactor after evaluating the kinetics of biodiesel production. The reactor was
evaluated for its performance by two-stage and one-pot syntheses methods using shea butter. The biodiesel produced was
characterized and compared with the ASTM standards for biodiesel and diesel. The reactor was designed for 6.5 L total and 4.5 L
working volume; the power rating and power delivery were 2.0 and 1.5 hp, respectively. The operating conditions for the reactor
to attain its highest yields of 91.01% and 76.67% with the two alternative methods had 800 rpm agitation speed and 40^oC
temperature. The reactor achieved the design objective of better than 90% biodiesel yield with the two-stage method only. The
biodiesel quality satisfied the ASTM standards. Therefore, the reactor could be scaled up for industrial production of biodiesel

Keywords

• design
• construction
• performance
• reactor
• shea butter
• biodiesel