Biodiesel and power biomass valorisation of palm oil in rural areas

Technical University of Crete, Greece University of Douala, Cameroon

Biodiesel and Power Biomass Valorisation of Palm oil in

rural areas: Case study of Mango´s village, Central

province, Cameroon

Mondialogo Engineering Award Symposium7-11 December 2007, Mumbai, India

Mr. Ioannis SarantopoulosGreek Team Member

Department of Environmental Engineering,Technical University of Crete, Greece

Mr. Willy AzangueCameroonian Team Member

Advanced Teachers Training College for Technical Education,University of Douala, Cameroon


Team Formation and Exchange

Initial steps• Project was initiated by Greek team• Contacts were made by Greek team• Project theme was proposed by Cameroonian team

Particular project was chosen because• Constitute research interest of both laboratories (available scientific support)• Problem being addressed is common in most agricultural rural areas of developing countries• Cameroon is one of Africa and world bigger palm oil producer ( 144 millions kg in 2003)

Information Exchange and Dialogue

• Communication : Yahoo-groups email, Internet chats, telephone (vo-ip), and visit (one Greek team member to Cameroon)

• Effective Dialogue for exchanging knowledge and experience


Technical University of Crete

University of Douala

Assist.Pr. Theocharis Tsoutsos

Supervisors Dr. Alexis Kemajou

Sarantopoulos IoannisChe FranklinBakirtzoglou Vaios

Team Members

Azangue Willy Ndipen Frankline Donatien Kop

Our Goals Promote biodiesel as essential energy source for daily life Build up skills for sustainability and energy self reliance Gather experience for other rural areas of developing countries Improve intercultural dialogue between students and countries

Team presentation

The site: Activity: agriculture, palm tree plantation Poor infrastructure, no electricity Population: around 10000 people Palm oil production 2006/2007: 80000 l/month Palm oil available for trade: 72000 l/month


The site : Mangoo village , Cameroon

Energy consumption graph (Data obtained from on-site investigation , 7-21/03/2007 )

High Palm Oil Production

Low selling price

Contribution to high poverty rate

Low economic growth

Limited access to modern energy

sources

• Manual tasks• No industries

Productive time and labour sink

Poor living standards

Use of fuel wood as primary energy

feedstock

Land degradation

High indoor air pollution

Impacts on health

Impacts from current situation in Mango village

Palm fruitsMotorised pressing

machine

Biodiesel processor

Biodiesel

Project description : Aims

Main Aims: Biodiesel production from palm oil in rural area Cost effective and better palm oil production Using palm oil wastes as power biomass for production process


Proposed palm oil exploitation in the village

Actually …

inefficient and polluting !

Residue and wood used for cooking

Manual pressing of palm oil


• Extraction from the nuts of the crude palm oil by pressing• Currently, high acidity due to poor extraction methods (FFA level 8%)• Pretreatment step of oil with acid esterification for reducing the acidity• Transesterification with basic catalyst for production of crude bio-diesel• Gravity separation of glycerin from crude-bio-diesel• Water-washing of crude bio-diesel for the removal of impurities

Crude Palm oil

Methanol

Crude Bio-diesel Bio-diesel

Water-Washing

+NaOH

SedimentationCrude

Glycerin

Pretreatment

Bio-diesel production process chart

Proposed biodiesel production process


Project implementation steps

Phase 1: Identification and characterization of area of study; Environmental impacts of the project Design low cost oil production process that fit with local environment Laboratory experiments: biodiesel production by a simple batch with sample

palm oil and kernel palm oil quantities; analyzing products obtained; identify the suitable method.

Construct a complete flow diagram for the transformation process from palm nut to biodiesel

Equipment design and selection: palm oil production unit, biodiesel processor, water supply, waste water treatment.

Phase 2: Cost analysis Put in place a management organization of the project in the village Unit construction Training operators of the unit Final evaluation and result presentation


Project work: Challenges and Solutions

Requirements for project to be successful:

Implementation of physical and social framework for complete intra-community sustainability with little outside intervention;

Setup of capable village committee to oversee maintenance and finances

Challenges:

• Villagers were highly motivated but poorly trained (qualified)

• Initial suspicion because several projects heralded in the past ended in fiasco

• Mistrust between villagers who were afraid of monopoly of stronger families

• Possible fuel for food problem

Proposed Solutions:

• Organize training workshop and seminars for villagers with help of local University

• Villagers to create committee/cooperation which will be strictly supervise by local team

• Small scale plant, studies and investigations to prevent occurrence of food problem


Project benefits

Positive aspects of the designed unit•Can be replicated to other contexts;•Can easily be scaled up concerning the local needs;•Low cost of construction;•Biomass valorization of palm kernel shell for thermal energy provision;•Bio-diesel generator to cover electrical needs;•Simple process design for inexperienced users (batch reactor)

Benefits of ProjectProvides fuel applicable for different uses (e.g. cooking, lighting, electricity etc);Prevents deforestation and desertification by providing alternatives for fuel wood;More productive time available for other activities;Less greenhouse gas emissions;Less harmful to health;Can revive local economy;


First visit: Determining palm oil production and local energy needs

Second visit: Informing the villagers about our intentions

Photos from the field


Future goals and perspectives

Conservation of the collaboration for implementation of project Project expansion: Multipurpose building (feedstock storage, mechanized palm oil

production, biodiesel plant) Project replicability (different feedstock)

Parallel activities to enhance project implementation

Construction of a pilot plant (Unisteplus Program-Greek Team)

Searching for funding opportunities(e.g. World Bank’s Lighting Africa)

Participation in Conferences

Perspectives

Technical University of Crete, Greece University of Douala, Cameroon


Thank you for your attention!!

Technology

Biodiesel and power biomass valorisation of palm oil in rural areas