Indian research lab files for US patent for coconut biofuel

The SCMS Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology R&D in Kochi, southwest India, has filed for a US patent after successfully developing and standardising a process for producing biofuel from coconut oil.

Coconut methyl ester (CME) can power diesel automobile engines. The centre conducted a 20-month study of the fuel, with research comprising optimisation of the production of CME from coconut oil, study of its physicochemical properties and test-running it as a fuel in unmodified diesel engines.

India's Department for Scientific and Industrial Research has reportedly offered to fund further research into the product.
The study was conducted at the quality control lab of the BPCL Cochin refinery.