Nigerian Female Professor Achieves Remarkable Milestone, Produces Fuel From Just Egg Shells

Cursory: Professor Elizabeth Odetoye, a Chemical Engineering expert at the University of Ilorin, has made a breakthrough by producing biodiesel using a catalyst derived from chicken eggshells. Professor Odetoye demonstrated the viability of eggshells as an affordable catalyst for biodiesel production. She emphasized the importance of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative and highlighted Nigeria’s potential in utilizing biomass residues for biofuel production.

Professor Elizabeth Odetoye, who teaches Chemical Engineering at the University of Ilorin, has achieved a remarkable milestone. She successfully produced biodiesel using a catalyst derived from chicken eggshells.

FYI: Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. Biodiesel meets both the biomass-based diesel and overall advanced biofuel requirement of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

This achievement is in line with the University of Ilorin’s goal of developing local technology to improve the country’s socio-economic development.

Professor Odetoye explained that she achieved this feat through a process called ‘trans-esterification experiment’.

Speaking at the 253rd Inaugural Lecture of the university, she emphasized that the results demonstrate the eggshell’s potential as an affordable catalyst for biodiesel production.

Highlighting the importance of utilizing eggshells she said “the utilisation of egg’s shells can add value to the poultry production process and minimise waste in the poultry industry”.

Despite biodiesel being a sustainable fuel alternative, she acknowledged that its high production cost compared to fossil fuel remains a significant challenge.

Professor Odetoye explained that biofuel refers to fuel made from biomass, “Biofuel is synonymous with biocrude, biodiesel, bio-oil, biogas, bioethanol, biosyngas and bioslurry fuels.”

She highlighted Nigeria’s abundant lignocellulose biomass residues, suggesting that there are ample opportunities to explore more environmentally friendly ways of utilizing them.

Credits: ALLSCHOOL, leadership

Read Also: “I Started in 2003”: Talented Nigerian Man Invents Device That Uses Salt and Water to Produce Light

ALLSCHOOL TEAM