Biodiesel Production from Waste Animal Fats: Marketable Products, their Potential, Challenges, and Opportunities

The volatility in global fuel prices and the desire to reduce dependence on fossil fuels necessitate the acceleration of alternative energy sources. The urgent global need to reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel usage, alongside the United Nations' mandate for sustainably produced energy in transport, industry, and power generation, calls for innovative energy solutions that minimize environmental impact. This paper explores waste animal fats (WAFs) biodiesel as a viable alternative to meet fuel demands in the transport sector, industry, and communities, and where feasible, for power generation. The biodiesel can be blended with fossil diesel in approved ratios as stipulated by the national and international regulatory bodies. Focusing on biodiesel production potential, the study employs a two-step process involving esterification using sulphuric acid as a catalyst and subsequent transesterification with sodium hydroxide in methanol. The esterification produces esters and water, while transesterification yields biodiesel and glycerol. The feedstocks consist of waste animal fats from cattle, pigs, and chickens discarded from meat processing and slaughterhouses, chosen based on the highest reared and slaughtered animal populations. Data on livestock populations is sourced from the local animal’s census records. The study aims to: Explore the economic potential of biodiesel production Examine the marketable products of the biodiesel production industry Determine the challenges and opportunities in biodiesel production Further ascertain that full-scale biodiesel production could contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Hence the need to critically explore this potential.