University of Plymouth researchers helps to develop new UCO recycling method
The method, outlined in a study published in Nature Catalysis, harnesses a new type of ultra-efficient catalyst that can make low-carbon biodiesel and other valuable complex molecules out of diverse, impure raw materials.
Waste cooking oil currently has to go through an energy-intensive cleaning process to be used in biodiesel, because commercial production methods can only handle pure feedstocks with 1-2% contaminants.
The new catalyst – developed by an international team led by RMIT University in Australia – is so tough it can make biodiesel from low-grade ingredients, known as feedstock, containing up to 50% contaminants.
It is also so efficient it could double the productivity of manufacturing processes for transforming rubbish like food scraps, microplastics and old tyres into high-value chemical precursors used to make anything from medicines and fertilisers to biodegradable packaging.
Category: Research