Prospective non-edible sources for biodiesel production: A comprehensive conventional and bibliometric review

Abstract

Anticipated increases in Nigeria's energy consumption correlate with urbanization, improved living standards, and population expansion. As society becomes more mindful of dwindling fossil fuel reserves and environmental issues, biodiesel emerges as a viable solution to meet future energy needs in both domestic and industrial sectors. Various feedstock alternatives exist for biodiesel production, with non-edible vegetable oils gaining attention due to their non-competitive nature with food crops. Nonetheless, a thorough examination of the feasibility of converting non-edible oils into biodiesel is necessary. This scrutiny is vital as biodiesel derived from any feedstock must adhere to ASTM and DIN EN specifications to ensure its suitability as a fuel. This research presents a detailed examination, both qualitatively and bibliometrically, of potential non-edible oils suitable for biodiesel production in Nigeria. Additionally, the aim is to evaluate the evolution of research outputs related to non-edible feedstocks over time, with a specific focus on the involvement of Nigeria as a nation, various institutions, journals, and authors. The analysis primarily focuses on original research publications and conference presentations, using search commands limited to article titles containing "Non-edible," "Seed oils," and "Nigeria." The results of the Scopus database searches were exported in BibteX format and further analyzed using R & R Studio. Findings indicate an increasing research interest over the past decade, with Jatropha, Neem, and Rubber seed oil appearing as the most frequently studied non-edible feedstocks in Nigeria. This study highlights the current research landscape and identifies promising directions for sustainable biodiesel development in the country.