PRODUCTION OF BIODEISEL FROM WASTE

PALM OIL USING SNAIL SHELL AS CATALYST

By
Alaza Inemotimi Joy
FUO/16/CME/2405

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Supervisor: prof. John Abiola Kehinde

 Agenda Slide PPT

01 introduction 05 scope of the study

02 objective of the study

06 justification

statement of the
03 problem 07 literature review

materials and
04 aim and objective 08 method

10 conclusion and recommendation 09 result and discussions

INTRODUCTION

Biodiesel is an alternative to fossil fuels that can be produced from various feedstock's, including waste palm oil.
The process of producing biodiesel involves transesterification or esterification of the feedstock with the help of a
catalyst. There are different catalysts that can be used for this purpose, including homogeneous, heterogeneous,
and enzymatic catalysts. The choice of catalyst will depend on various factors such as the feedstock, reaction
conditions, and the desired yield and quality of the biodiesel product.
The production of biodiesel involves several steps, including the selection and preparation of the feedstock, the
transesterification or esterification reaction with the help of a catalyst, and the purification of the biodiesel product.
The choice of catalyst plays a crucial role in the process, as it determines the rate and efficiency of the reaction, the
yield and quality of the biodiesel product, and the environmental impact of the process.
 The aim of this study is: To investigate the potential of using
AIM AND OBJECTIVES snail shell as a catalyst for biodiesel production from waste palm
oil.

The specific objectives of the study are:

01 i. To evaluate the effectiveness of snail shell as a catalyst for the

transesterification reaction of waste palm oil.

ii. To determine the optimum reaction conditions for biodiesel production

using snail shell as a catalyst.

iii. To compare the performance of snail shell catalyst with conventional

catalysts in terms of biodiesel yield and quality.
02
iv. To investigate the potential of snail shell catalyst for reducing the
environmental impact of biodiesel production.

v. To assess the economic feasibility of using snail shell as a catalyst in

biodiesel production.

03
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In the pursuit of sustainable and environmentally

friendly energy sources, the production of biodiesel
from waste palm oil holds promise as an alternative to
conventional fossil fuels. However, challenges persist in
optimizing the biodiesel production process to enhance
efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental
impact. This research project focuses on the utilization
of snail shell as a catalyst in the transesterification of
waste palm oil for biodiesel production.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study aims to evaluate the catalytic activity of
snail shell and optimize the reaction parameters such
as temperature, catalyst loading, and alcohol-to-oil
ratio. The study will also compare the performance of
snail shell catalyst with conventional catalysts and
assess the economic feasibility of the process. The
results of the study are expected to contribute to the
development of a sustainable and cost-effective
method for producing biodiesel from waste palm oil,
which can help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
and mitigate the environmental impact of their use.
 Literature review
THE USE OF SNAIL SHELL AS A CATALYST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE PALM OIL HAS BEEN EXPLORED IN RECENT STUDIES. SNAIL SHELL IS ABUNDANT AND HAS HIGH CALCIUM
CONTENT, WHICH CAN BE USED AS A CATALYST FOR THE TRANSESTERIFICATION OF WASTE PALM OIL. THE LITERATURE REVIEW DISCUSSES VARIOUS RESEARCH STUDIES ON THE USE OF SNAIL SHELL AS A
CATALYST FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF REACTION PARAMETERS SUCH AS TEMPERATURE, CATALYST LOADING, AND ALCOHOL-TO-OIL RATIO.
OVERALL, THE LITERATURE REVIEW SUGGESTS THAT SNAIL SHELL CAN BE AN EFFICIENT AND ECO-FRIENDLY CATALYST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE PALM OIL. IT OFFERS HIGH
CATALYTIC ACTIVITY, LOW COST, AND EASY AVAILABILITY. HOWEVER, FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO OPTIMIZE THE REACTION PARAMETERS AND SCALE UP THE PROCESS FOR COMMERCIAL
APPLICATIONS.
MATERIALS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL

Waste palm oil Snail shells

Collected from sources such as restaurants or
households, and filtered to remove impurities.
The quantity will depend on the batch size. For a
small-scale batch, you might start with around 5-
10 liters (1.3-2.6 gallons) of waste vegetable oil.
Snail shells are collected, washed,
crushed, and calcined at high
temperature to activate the
catalyst. 20 grams of snail shell.

Sodium hydroxide
Used as a neutralizing agent for
the acidic components in the waste
08 01 Rotary evaporator
palm oil. If you're preparing your Used for drying the biodiesel.
catalyst from NaOH or KOH
pellets, you'll need a small
quantity of acid (usually 1-2% of 07 Business 02
the catalyst weight) for the catalyst
preparation process. This might
amount to a few grams. Process
Analytical equipment:
Alcohol
06 Flow 03 Such as a viscometer, density
Methanol is the most commonly meter, flash point tester, and acid
used alcohol in biodiesel value tester, for characterization of
production. The molar ratio of
alcohol to oil is typically around 05 04 the produced biodiesel.

6:1. For example, for 10 liters of

waste vegetable oil, you'd need
approximately 1.67 liters (or about
1.4 kg) of methanol. Heating mantle Safety Equipment:
Personal protective equipment
Used for heating the reaction mixture (PPE) like gloves, safety goggles,
lab coat, and a face shield are
essential for safety during the
process.
• Collection and preparation of waste palm oil: Waste palm oil is collected from various sources
and pre-processed to remove impurities, moisture, and free fatty acids.
• Preparation of snail shell catalyst: Snail shells are collected, washed, and dried to remove any
impurities. They are then crushed and ground to a fine powder and calcined at high
temperatures to activate the calcium carbonate present in the shells.
• Transesterification reaction: Waste palm oil is mixed with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol
in the presence of snail shell catalyst. The mixture is then heated and stirred for a specific
duration to allow for the reaction to take place. The products of the reaction include biodiesel
and glycerol.
• Separation of biodiesel: The mixture is allowed to cool and the glycerol and biodiesel layers are
separated using a separation funnel. The biodiesel is washed with water to remove any impurities
and dried.
• Analysis of biodiesel: The properties of the produced biodiesel such as viscosity, density, flash
point, octane number, and acid value are analyzed and compared with standard specifications.
• Optimization of reaction parameters: The reaction parameters such as temperature, catalyst
loading, and alcohol-to-oil ratio are varied to determine their effect on the yield and quality of
biodiesel.
• Economic feasibility analysis: The cost of production of biodiesel using snail shell catalyst is
estimated and compared with conventional catalysts to assess its economic feasibility.
 Production process
of
Biodiesel using snail shell as
catalyst
 Table and graph of non-calcine snail shell
Waste palm oil Methanol Vol of Time Biodiesel Yield of
S/n (ml) (ml) catalyst(g (m) yield glycerin
) (Biodiesel by
product)

1 60.0 180.0 4.0 30 45.8 41.4

2 60.0 180.0 4.0 35 44.9 50

3 60.0 180.0 4.0 40 40.5 42.2

4 60.0 180.0 4.0 45 41.3 44.3

5 60.0 180.0 4.0 50 40.6 44.1

The data suggests that an overly extended reaction time may not necessarily lead to higher biodiesel yields, and
careful consideration of this parameter is crucial for achieving an optimal balance between biodiesel and glycerin
production.
 Experiment 2
Table and graph of calcine snail shell
Calcined Waste Methanol Vol of Time Biodiesel Yield of
S/n degree of palm oil (ml) catalyst (m) yield glycerin
catalyst (ml) (g) (Biodiesel by
product)

1 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 30 105.85 40.98

Biodiesel yield
2 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 35 108.50 52.40

3 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 40 109.24 53.55

4 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 45 110.93 56.21

5 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 50 112.83 57.67

Table of calcine waste graph of calcine WUO against time(T)

The table presents data on biodiesel production from waste palm oil using a catalyst calcined at 900°C, with variations in
reaction time.
 Biodiesel production from waste palm oil with variations in the volume of the catalyst (calcined at 900°C) and reaction time

Calcined Waste Methanol Vol of Time Biodiesel Yield of

S/n degree of palm (ml) catalyst (m) yield glycerin
catalyst oil (g) (Biodiesel by
(ml) product)

1 900oc 60.0 180.0 2.0 30 92.69 64.42

2 900oc 60.0 180.0 2.5 35 93.24 68.51

3 900oc 60.0 180.0 3.0 40 110.64 85.71

4 900oc 60.0 180.0 3.5 45 110.85 61.18

5 900oc 60.0 180.0 4.0 50 111.33 57.67

graph of biodiesel production from waste palm oil with variations in the volume of
The table presents data on biodiesel production from waste palm oil with variations in
the catalyst (calcined at 900°C) and reaction time
the volume of the catalyst (calcined at 900°C) and reaction time

The data highlights the importance of carefully optimizing the volume of the catalyst in biodiesel production from waste palm oil. The observed
trends provide insights into the complex interplay between catalyst volume, reaction time, and the resulting biodiesel and glycerin yields.
Further analysis and experimentation may be necessary to pinpoint the optimal conditions for achieving specific production goals.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• High yield of biodiesel: The use of snail shell as a catalyst is expected to result in a high yield of biodiesel, as it
has been found to have high catalytic activity.
• Good quality biodiesel: The properties of the produced biodiesel such as viscosity, density, flash point, cetane
number, and acid value are expected to meet the standard specifications for biodiesel.
• Optimal reaction parameters: The study may identify the optimal reaction parameters such as temperature,
catalyst loading, and alcohol-to-oil ratio that result in the highest yield and quality of biodiesel.
• Comparison with conventional catalysts: The study may compare the performance of snail shell catalyst with
conventional catalysts such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and determine if snail shell is a viable
alternative.
• Economic feasibility: The cost of production of biodiesel using snail shell catalyst is expected to be lower than
conventional catalysts, making it economically feasible for large-scale production.
 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
In conclusion, the production of biodiesel from waste palm oil using snail shell as a catalyst is a promising area of research
with significant potential benefits. The use of snail shell catalyst can help to reduce the environmental impact of waste palm
oil and provide a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional catalysts.
The study on the production of biodiesel from waste palm oil using snail shell catalyst may contribute to the development of
a practical and scalable process for the production of biodiesel, which can be used to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels,
mitigate climate change, and provide economic opportunities.
The expected results of the study include a high yield of good quality biodiesel, optimal reaction parameters, comparison
with conventional catalysts, and economic feasibility. The cost of carrying out a small-scale project on this work in Nigeria
may range from 20,000 to 35,000 Nigerian Naira.
Further research in this area may focus on the optimization of reaction conditions, such as the use of different types of
alcohol or the addition of co-catalysts, to improve the yield and quality of biodiesel. Additionally, studies on the life cycle
assessment of biodiesel production using snail shell catalyst may be useful to determine its overall environmental impact.
Overall, the production of biodiesel from waste palm oil using snail shell catalyst is a promising area of research with
significant potential benefits for the environment, the economy, and society as a whole.
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