Abstract Shea butter seeds were collected and processed. 500.000 g of the processed seeds were subjected to soxhlet extraction for 5 hours at 85oC using n-hexane (as extracting solvent). The extract (seed oil) was recovered from the extracting solvent by rotary evaporation and concentrated to a constant weight at 37 oC. A solution mixture of volume ratio, 1: 9(seed oil to methanol) was prepared and subjected to transesterification reaction under different operational conditions of temperature, catalyst (NaOH) and reaction time for biodiesel production. The biodiesel produced was separated from the associated product (glycerol) and concentrated to constant weight. The saponification value of the glycerol component was determined. The work showed that the optimum operational conditions for maximum biodiesel production were 65oC, 1.00 M of NaOH (as catalyst) and 65 minute. The work also showed that: temperature’ above 65oC led to decomposition of biodiesel; catalyst concentrations above 1.00 M led to formation of soap as by-product and; prolonging of reaction time beyond 65 minute led to hydrolysis of the biodiesel formed.
Keywords Shea butter seed oil; biodiesel, reaction time; temperature; concentration of catalyst.