Inambao, Freddie Liswaniso.Maroa, Samwel Semakula.2022-09-192022-09-1920212021https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/20843Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban.Biodiesel oil blending is not a new concept in the study of biofuels and production. Blending is a chemical process of two or more different feedstocks comingled in varying proportions in the production of a new oil or fuel blend possessing different physico-chemical properties. Since fuel properties and the physico-chemical configuration of each feedstock vary from source to source, blending improves and enhances these properties. Therefore, the combination of different feedstocks enhances and improves properties of the initial parent feedstock, by adapting to improved and high-quality attributes. Worldwide, the sources of biodiesel production has been centred on edible and non-edible plants such as sunflower, canola, soybean, moringa, Jatropha, and so on. However, in the recent past, there has been a renewed shift into biomass and other recycled waste sources for biodiesel production and utilization. Waste to energy is a critical area of research and study in this present work as it intends to fill in these gaps by emphasising the shift to biodiesel production from non-plant-based sources. This shift will increase food security by discouraging the contribution of commercial farming for the production of biodiesel. This work contributes to improving environmental protection by reducing pollution from municipal solid waste found in landfills and other waste management sites. Waste resources such as waste cooking oil, waste engine oil, waste tyre oil and waste plastic oil converted into energy provide many alternatives in reducing wastage. By promoting use of these resources, this study aims at increasing environmental awareness and sustainability by using waste as an energy resource. This focus will open up socio-economic opportunities in recycling besides the academic and research impacts. By employing blending strategies using these waste feedstocks (engine oil, cooking oil, plastic oil and waste tyre oil using pyrolysis thermal processes), the study will improve the initial poor chemical properties which will confer improved engine performance with emissions reduction especially those dealing with sulfur and other contaminants from municipal solid waste streams. The production of pyrolyzed municipal solid waste (MSW) oil will be ex-situ and in-situ (the former means after production while the later means before production of biodiesel). This research work will assist in determining standard procedures and sequencing to obtain working ratios of the blending processes and techniques of biodiesel production.enWaste engine oil.Vegetable oil.Biodiesel production--Physico-chemical properties.Environmental sustainability--Municipal solid waste.Biofuels.Renewable energy sources.Thesis