Fossil fuels are fast depleting. In such times, bio-renewable sources of fuel need to be figured out. In this light, the Biofuel Information and Demonstration Centre (BIDC) in Karnataka uses bio-diesel produced from seeds of simaruba, neem, surahonne, naga sampige, castor, and jatropha.
But due to the rise of prices and limited availability of some species of seeds like Jatropha, the Mahalinga Adyanthaya Memorial Institute of Technology (NMAMIT) has found out a cheaper alternative.
NMAMIT will procure biodiesel from waste cooking oil obtained from hotels
The centre in the Nitte, Udupi region of Karnataka is the first one of its kind and will be using the waste oil used for cooking from hotels and bakers in the area. It will also be saved and put into good use rather than throwing it in the drains.
The centre has placed barrels at various hotels and other places and collects them once a month
The barrels enable the places to store the cooking oil after they are done with the day’s cooking. C Vaman Rao, head of the department of biotechnology engineering and chief project coordinator, BIDC, Nitte, said that some places provide the barrels without any charge while some charge them for rates ranging from Rs. 25 to 30 per litre.
Biodiesel obtained from cooking oil is cheap and very useful in its properties
A litre of cooking oil can produce up to 95% of bio-diesel. The process is called transesterification of oil and it is done using a catalyst. This chemical reaction produces a Glycerine as a by-product, which can be used to make soap. The biodiesel reduces hydrocarbon emissions and is also a good cleansing agent for vehicle engines. Biodiesel costs Rs. 40 per litre.
New technologies are coming out every day and cheaper and better alternatives are being found in place of depleting fuels.
Clean India, efficient India!