Yemisi Izuora
A University don has come out with a research project that confirms that waste cooking oil generated by restaurants and households across Nigeria can be converted into high-quality biodiesel capable of powering generators, trucks and industrial equipment.
A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Dr Esther Babatunde, while making public the research findings on renewable energy and waste valorisation, said that biodiesel obtained from waste cooking oil could reduce energy costs, pollution and fuel imports.
Waste valorisation is defined as the process of reusing, recycling, composting, or converting waste into useful products, such as chemicals and fuels, by transforming discarded materials into raw materials or energy sources.
Babatunde, who is also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, noted that Nigeria’s hospitality sector produced large volumes of waste cooking oil annually.
She noted that much of these waste cooking oils are improperly disposed of, despite its potential as a renewable fuel feedstock.
“What many people regard as useless waste is actually a valuable resource.
“Used cooking oil can be converted into biodiesel that can power generators, trucks and industrial equipment, while also reducing environmental pollution.
“Nigeria produces over 100,000 tonnes of waste cooking oil every year from hotels, bukas and fast-food outlets, especially in urban centres like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“This is not sludge; it is a feedstock goldmine for renewable diesel.
“At a time when we export crude oil but still depend on imported fuels due to weak refining capacity, biodiesel from waste oil offers a local, sustainable and affordable alternative,” she said.
She explained that biodiesel was produced from waste cooking oil through a chemical process known as transesterification, which involves combining the oil with methanol in the presence of a catalyst.
“In our laboratory at the University of Ilorin, we replicated industrial-scale experiments using waste oil collected from campus cafeterias.
“Under optimal conditions of 60 degrees Celsius, a 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio and just three per cent catalyst loading, we achieved a biodiesel yield of 97.6 per cent that met ASTM standards.
“This is not rocket science. It is chemical engineering adapted to Nigerian realities, using locally sourced materials, including catalysts derived from waste and natural resources.
“Unlike biodiesel produced from edible oils such as palm or soybean, waste cooking oil avoids the food-versus-fuel debate and significantly lowers production costs,” she said.
On environmental benefits, Babatunde said biodiesel burns cleaner than petroleum and diesel, and could significantly improve air quality in Nigerian cities.
According to her, biodiesel reduces particulate matter emissions by about 50 per cent and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78 per cent over its lifecycle.
She explained that this could be transformative in cities choked by fumes from generators, diesel buses, etc.
“Repeated frying raises the acid value of cooking oil, but with proper pre-treatment, this degraded oil actually becomes ideal for biodiesel production.
“Diverting waste cooking oil from drains and landfills also prevents water pollution and methane emissions, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 on clean and affordable energy,” Babatunde said.
She disclosed that pilot biodiesel projects are already yielding positive results in parts of the country.
“A small plant in Ogun State processes about 5,000 litres of waste oil daily.
“It now powers local vehicle fleets and has reduced diesel imports in that area by roughly 20 per cent,” she said.
According to her, biodiesel from waste cooking oil could be produced at about 52 cents per litre, nearly half the cost of imported diesel.
Babatunde said: “This makes it a lifeline for small-scale farmers, transporters and off-grid communities.
“With cooperatives collecting waste oil from street vendors, especially in places like Kano and Enugu, local fuel production can drive both economic growth and energy security.
“Jobs will emerge across the value chain – collectors, technicians, processors and marketers – while communities gain access to affordable, locally produced fuel,” she added.
Babatunde, however, identified weak policy implementation, poor waste collection systems and low public awareness as major obstacles.
“Nigeria’s 2007 Biofuel Policy targeted a 10 per cent blending rate by 2015, but inconsistent enforcement and inadequate infrastructure have stalled progress.
“Many restaurateurs still see waste cooking oil as worthless and dump it indiscriminately. With the right incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidised small-scale processors, this attitude can change,” she added.
She urged government to integrate waste cooking oil utilisation into the National Energy Master Plan and called on universities to lead training and extension programmes.
“These challenges are not barriers; they are opportunities. With research support, policy backing and community engagement, biodiesel from waste oil can become a key player in Nigeria’s alternative energy mix,” Babatunde said.
She concluded that although biodiesel was not a cure-all, it represented a realistic step toward a cleaner and more resilient energy future for Nigeria.
“Climate change, declining global oil demand and rising energy costs demand pragmatic solutions. With a blend of chemistry and community effort, we can turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s fuel,” she said.