Effect of Process Variables on the Production of Biodiesel by the Non-Catalytic Supercritical Trans-Esterification of Sheanut Oil

The production and characterization of biodiesel from sheanut oil was carried out using the supercritical transesterification process and the effects of process variables such as temperature, feed blending ratio, and time were investigated. The physico-chemical properties of the biodiesel produced were compared to the conventional light atmospheric gas oil (LAGO) which is commercially used as fuel in diesel engines. Result showed that supercritical trans-esterification method could be used for the production of biodiesel from sheanut oil. Optimum yield of 89.5% was observed at the feed blending ratio of 20:1, a temperature of 240oC, and a reaction time of 240 minutes