Researchers from UAE Develop Compact Biodiesel Reactor

Researchers from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in the United Arab Emirates have designed and are now testing a new biodiesel reactor that could lower production costs.

The institute, together with Abu Dhabi's Center of Waste Management, Tadweer, developed the chemical reactor capable of producing high-quality biodiesel from fats, such as waste cooking oil, using less energy in less time. The reactor combines mixing via soundwave agitation, flow mixing via static mixer, as well as separation, recovery, and purification to efficiently convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel. The process also yields less of the by-product glycerol and more biodiesel than conventional industrial methods.

The Masdar Institute reactor is also much smaller compared to traditional bioreactors. Because of this, the production capacity will be suitable for organizations that have an interest in sustainable waste transformation. Aside from waste cooking oil, the reactor can also convert algal oil, non-edible vegetable oil, and tallow from meat processing facilities.