Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) at Dehradun has developed a unique technique of producing Diesel from cooking oil, which may lead in conservation of natural resources. As an initiative of exploring Biodiesel for the past 8 years, through this technique, Diesel will be produced from the leftover cooking oil.
"IIP had filed for a patent in the year 2015, which was granted in 2018, after which research was commenced," said Neeraj, the Chief Scientist of the project.
Read:| Higher reaches of Uttarakhand receive snowfall
Explaining the extraction of Diesel through a model in the campus itself, Neeraj revealed that the leftover cooking oil is collected from the institute's mess.
The model illustrated that Methanol solvent is mixed with Sodium Carbonate, also known as Soda, which works as a catalyst. The mixture is then mixed with filtered cooking oil.
This combination attains a layered formation in which oil remains in the lower layer whereas Methanol mixture stays above. Following this, the entire mixture is heated for 3-4 hours at about 65 degree Celsius. After this, another patented mixture prepared by IIP is mixed in this solution manually for less than a minute.
Through chemical reactions, Biodiesel and Glycerol are separated within 15 minutes. The formation of Diesel takes about 2 hours. Biodiesel is found in the upper layer and Glycerol at the base of the mixture. The Glycerol is further processed and sent for use in soap manufacturing.
Scientist Neeraj further stated that about 20 to 25 million tonnes of cooking oil are used in India and if 5 per cent of this amount is used in Diesel conversion then a large fraction of import of crude oil can be curtailed.
Read:| Chardham Yatra 2019: Kedarnath Yatra breaks records, Rs 400 crore revenue generated
IIP has established a 50 litre per batch unit based on diesel research. The first plant will be installed in Dehradun's Raipur soon which is expected to start production from March 2020.
Apart from this, IIP Dehradun has already gained orders for the establishment of three such biofuel plants from Gujarat. Uttar Pradesh Biofuel Board has also proposed to set up one such plant in Bundelkhand region.
