TERI findings changing biodiesel production process can reduce tailpipe emissions

In India, changing the process of producing biodiesel could help reduce tailpipe emissions of nanoparticles, contributing to improving air quality, according to a collaborative study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and Tampere University, Finland.

TERI, supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of GoI, and the Finnish research collaboration have found that the hydrodecarboxylation process of producing biodiesel helps reduce tailpipe emission of such particles. This process requires hydrogen and a suitable catalyst. However, clean, non-fossil fuel-based production of hydrogen remains a challenge. TERI has developed a pilot scale process for hydrogen production in 1m3 scale from sugarcane black strap molasses and lignoclelulosic agricultural residue biomass.

It is also carrying forward research explorations in hydrogen production from next generation feedstock under the DBT-TERI Centre of Excellence programme on Integrated Production of Advanced Biofuels and Biocommodities (ProBio). The team is engaged in exploration of new second and third generation feedstock for hydrogen production from biological sources. Invasive plant species water hyacinth (Eichhornia sp.) and aquatic ferns such as ‘Azolla’, apart from corn cob have been identified as having good potential for hydrogen production from biological sources.

The study also suggested possible modifications in the Biofuel Policy of India to address the tailpipe emission of nanoparticles, based on case studies from India and Finland.