Bio-fuel buses at Sathyabama

CHENNAI: The Centre for Waste Management (CWM) of Sathyabama University, in association with the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), have started off a bio-diesel production centre on the campus of the University. The cooking oil waste generated at the University’s mess is being used as the raw material. And, the bio-fuel is being used to operate buses.On Tuesday, during an international seminar on ‘Waste Management’, Herman Koller, Managing Director of International Solid Waste Association, flagged off five buses that are fuelled by this bio-diesel.Following the method of transesterification, samples of oil from the mess were taken and transesterified with chemicals like methanol, calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide. The oil was used in the mess to fry food items like poori, vadai, fish, chicken and appalam. According to the University, nearly 70 per cent of the oil is obtained from the mess every 15 days, which after transesterification yielded 98.17 per cent of bio-fuel. The bio-fuel gives a smoother ride with minimal pollution as compared to petrol or diesel, said Jeppiaar, Chairman and Founder of the University.According to the CWM of Sathyabama University, bio-diesel is safer for people to breathe due to the lack of aromatic compounds and it contributes greatly to the domestic energy security, since it is domestically produced. Bio-diesel also degrades four times faster than petroleum-based diesel.The bio-fuel obtained by this process has sulphur content close to zero, generates significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and non toxic bio-fuels. According to a study conducted by the US Department of Energy, bio-diesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 78.5 percent as compared to petroleum diesel.Jeppiaar further stated that at least a hundred of the University’s buses would operate in bio-fuel soon.