Production, Composition and Fuel Properties of Tallow Biodiesel: A Case of Botswana

Biodiesel has been identified globally as presenting an opportunity for development of a sustainable fuel source, especially in light of international pressures for greenhouse gas emission reductions and the unpredictability of availability and pricing of fossil fuels. For Botswana, the internal development of biodiesel could signify a positive move away from a dependency on imported fuel products, provide sustainable employment and contribute to poverty alleviation measures. In the current study, biodiesel was synthesized from animal fat and tested for fuel properties. Results have shown a biodiesel production yield of 93%, chemical composition that is typical of a biodiesel fuel, and fuel properties that are largely comparable to those of petroleum diesel.