Production of Biodiesel from Chicken Waste Fats via Two-Step Transesterification Process

The growing demand for energy and the environmental impact of fossil fuels have intensified the search for sustainable and renewable alternatives. Biodiesel has emerged as a promising substitute for conventional diesel due to its biodegradability, lower emissions, and compatibility with existing engines. However, the high cost and food–fuel conflict associated with vegetable oil feedstocks limit large-scale biodiesel adoption in developing countries. In this study, waste chicken fats collected from local poultry processing units were utilized as a low-cost, non-edible feedstock for biodiesel production. A two-step process comprising acid esterification followed by alkaline transesterification was employed to reduce free fatty acid content and improve conversion efficiency. Experimental results showed a biodiesel yield of 73.34%, with fuel properties such as density, viscosity, calorific value, and cetane number closely matching ASTM biodiesel standards. The findings demonstrate that chicken waste fats represent a viable and environmentally sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production, contributing to waste valorisation and renewable energy generation.