THE PROJECT MAIN ACTIVITIES

  1. Study various underutilized plants found in the region with high seed-oil contents for biodiesel production and agricultural wastes with high alkaline and alkaline earth metals.
  2. Produce and characterize bio-based catalysts from selected agricultural wastes (coffee husks and cashew nutshells)
  3. Produce and characterize natural antioxidants from Loquat fruit peels and pulps, leaves, barks and roots.
  4. Produce and characterize biodiesel from selected underutilized plants using produced bio-based catalysts and compare its fuel properties to global and local standards.
  5. Investigate the influence of produced natural antioxidants on the stability of biodiesel and other important fuel-related parameters in comparison to selected synthetic antioxidants (pure and blends)
  6. Investigate the influence of added antioxidants on engine performance, exhaust emissions, and combustion characteristics.
  7. Catalytic conversion of fatty acids by ketonization and aldol condensation with acetic acids to improve fuel properties including testing of the fuel parameters and engine tests using pure or as blending agents
  8. Conduct techno-economic analysis for producing biodiesels, bio-based catalysts, and antioxidants from selected underutilized plants and agricultural wastes



Project anticipated output

  1. Low-cost bio-based catalysts and natural antioxidants with high performance are produced
  2. Sufficient quantities of Biodiesels and blends with catalytic upgraded biofuels and mineral diesel are produced and are within specifications stipulated in global biodiesels standards for characterization and engine testing
  3. At least 15 papers are published in SCI/SCIE-listed journals during project lifetime of five years
  4. At least 10 conferences are attended where oral or poster presentations will be made with orally presented papers published in conference proceedings
  5. At least three patents are filed for development of heterogeneous catalysts and antioxidants
  6. At least 3 PhD students and 2 postdocs are supported by this project and complete timely
  7. Two workshops to demonstrate findings of the project are organized during the project lifetime targeting a diverse audience of stakeholders in the biofuels industry, academic staff, and students.
  8. Outreach program to primary and secondary school students are organized annually whereby presentations of simplified research findings of the project and products will be made