Dr. Wunuken Carlos Solomon, a Senior Lecturer at the Mechanical Engineering Department, Nigeria Defense Academy. With over twenty years of experience in teaching and research, he has pioneered groundbreaking works in renewable energy systems, earning him widespread recognition.
Over this period, Dr. Solomon’s research has been diverse and covers solar and wind energy systems and biofuels. He has conducted extensive work with biofuels, primarily focusing on developing biodiesel as a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel for transportation and power generation.
He has optimized biodiesel production through transesterification from locally sourced Jatropha Curcas seed oil, an underutilized non-edible plant-based feedstock found in abundance in the northwest of the country.
This ground-breaking research achieved the highest biodiesel yield of 99% by optimizing three process variables with remarkably reduced costs of production and environmental effects, with fuel properties that conform to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) ASTM D 6751 standards, and significantly high calorific value for biodiesel which indicates its suitability as fuel for the diesel engine.
The research produced a novel model to predict the optimum combinations of process variables for maximal biodiesel yield. The model can apply Jatropha from other parts of the country and other non-edible oil feedstocks to its framework.
The choice of non-edible feedstock means this resource has zero competition with edible ones for food security. Nigeria’s biofuel policy remains largely unimplemented. Adapting research like this one will serve as a precursor to actualizing its goals, principally creating a thriving biofuel economy using indigenous resources sustainably and reducing the overdependence on conventional fuels.
Professor DM Kulla, an energy expert, described the work as game-changing for the energy sector and urged the government to continue to support homegrown energy solutions in the country to effectively and efficiently utilize its resources.
Discover more from The Industry
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
