The rheology and empirical models for predicting viscosity, density, cloud and pour point of lard biodiesel and its blend with diesel fuel as a function of temperature and biodiesel content was determined. Lard biodiesel was blended with conventional petro diesel in a conical flask using splash blending method with continuous stirring to ensure uniform mixing. Biodiesel was blended with the diesel fuel at a volume basis of 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60% and analyzed at temperatures of 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100o C. Thermodynamic free energies of activation for flow (∆Gvis) for the fuel samples were determined. From the results, density and viscosity of the blends decreased with increase in temperature while these properties increased with increase of biodiesel content in the fuel blend. The cloud and the pour point of the blend increased as the biodiesel content increased. The empirical models of the flow properties as a function of temperature and biodiesel content showed a linear relationship for density, while viscosity, pour and cloud points were better fitted to empirical second order polynomial model and the values obtained were in good agreement with the experiments hence, assists ignition engine manufacturers to optimize performance, economy and emissions.

This study investigated the process of cleaning oil spills using both raw corn cobs (RCC) and acetylated corn cobs (ACC). The corn cobs were acetylated in a solvent free system using acetic anhydride, in the presence of Iodine, under mild reaction conditions. The acetylation was carried out at 100o C for 2 hours using 1% iodine. The system conditions played significant roles on the extent of acetylation expressed as Weight Percent Gain (WPG). The weight percent gain (WPG) due to acetylation was found to be 17.6%. Sorption studies were also carried out on both RCC and ACC. The result of the analysis showed higher values of oil sorption capacities (g/g) for ACC than RCC. This goes to prove that acetylation increased the oil sorption capacity of the corn cobs. It was found that particle size, sorption time, sorbent dosage and temperature has very significant effects on the oil sorption capacities of the modified corn cobs. To investigate the acetylation reaction, functional analysis of the RCC and ACC were carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The FT- IR data showed a clear evidence of successful acetylation. ACC are therefore recommended for oil spillage clean up, as well as for further development.