Biotech Updates

Researchers Make Biodiesel Using Microwave

November 13, 2013

News article: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/9407/israeli-taiwanese-team-developing-microwave-biodiesel-process

News article: http://biofuelsandbiomass.energy-business-review.com/news/taiwans-ncku-researchers-develops-new-method-to-cost-effectively-produce-biodiesel-from-used-cooking-oil-051113


Researchers at the National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan) cooperating with a visiting scientist from Bar-Ilan University (Israel) have developed a microwave-based process which turns waste cooking oil into biodiesel in 10 seconds.

The team's technology, which can convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel and glycerol in around 10 to 40 seconds, uses microwave combined with strontium oxide as a catalyst for efficient conversion. The catalyst can be removed and recycled to carry out the same reaction at least 10 more times.

With this technology, the NCKU currently can process 100 kg of waste oil a day to produce biodiesel but this figure is expected to increase to several tons as they scale up production. The university is now in the process of applying for a patent for the technology and is seeking to scale up production with industry partners.