About
The Excellence in Africa (EXAF) Centre at EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) was created in 2020, with the aim of promoting digital technologies and academic excellence throughout the African continent through training, innovation and cutting-edge scientific research. In nutshell EXAF DNA is digital and excellence in research, training and innovation across an entire continent (Africa).
Project Name: Exploiting the potential of underutilized African plants and agricultural wastes in biofuels production
Project Overall Objective
To decrease processing costs and increase the value of bio-based fuels in Africa through the use of underutilized African plants for the production of fuels, including biodiesel, using agricultural wastes for producing low-cost bio-based (heterogeneous) catalysts and natural antioxidants, while exploring the further processing of fatty acids through ketonization and aldol condensation to increase fuel versatility and value.
Challenges addressed by this project
- Environmental concerns (greenhouse emissions) from world’s heavily used fossil fuels and burning of agricultural wastes.
- Biodiesel production from food-based oils poses an existential threat to food security (food-versus-fuel debate).
- Low biodiesel yield from commonly used homogeneous catalysts due to soap formation.
- Susceptibility of biodiesel to auto-oxidation when exposed to elevated temperatures, air, or metals due to improper storage and handling along the retail fuel distribution chain.
- Chemical structure of fatty acids in plant oil limits the range of properties attainable by the fuels that are produced by transesterification process.