Biodiesel created via microwave research

Research at the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan has developed a microwave-based process which transforms waste cooking oils into biodiesel in 10 seconds.

The team was led by the visiting Aharon Gedanken from the Department of Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

‘I was told Taiwanese people like to cook a lot but waste cooking oils are a problem for the environment. So we come up with an idea to combine a microwave and with a certain catalyst so that we can fully convert the waste into biodiesel efficiently,’ he says. ‘Everyone could do this, albeit at small-scale, in their own kitchens.’

The project is currently converting 100kg of waste oil a day but Gedanken believes that figure can eventually move into tonnes.

‘We are in the process of applying for a patent for the technology which underpins the study,’ he adds. ‘In Europe, by 2020, 20% of the diesel at petrol stations will contain biodiesel and I hope Taiwan will see that across 100% of its outlets by the same year.’

The university is hoping an approved budget for 2014 which will allow it to purchase equipment to scale up production levels.