"RobertL" wrote in message
...
Really? I thought biodiesel was cheaper grow and refine than making
oil by mining coal and making oil from it. But in any case the
relevant question is not whether coal/oil is cheaper than bio/oil.
The question is: is there more profit to be made from growing
biodiesel than growing food.


A LIVERPOOL professor is sending a buzz around the world after he turned
chip fat oil into biofuel - using a microwave.

John Moores University professor Ahmed Al-Shamma is leading the world in
pioneering new microwave technology which could help cut the world's CO²
emissions.
The scientist has been collecting old oil from chip shops, kebab houses and
restaurants and using it to power his car.

He is now confident that, by 2015, the people of Merseyside could be driving
in cars powered by biofuel.

The British Government and European community are so impressed with the work
coming out of the small lab in Liverpool that they have given millions of
pounds in funding.

Prof Al-Shamma, head of RF and Microwave technology in the engineering
research institute, said: "Everyone has heard of biofuel - it's not new, but
using microwave technology is new. It brings all the benefits of sustainable
fuel but without the negatives, the waste byproducts.

And using microwave technology means one source can be used for multiple
applications.

"I have no doubt that, if the Government adapts a zero carbon approach, the
people of Merseyside will be driving around in cars fuelled by biofuel."

Prof Al-Shamma's team, which has drawn experts from across the globe, have
found using microwaves so efficient, they are already testing the mileage
they can get out of the car.

So far, test runs on an X reg (10 years old) VW car have shown dramatic
results which could lower the cost of fuel per litre to a mere 20p.
Explaining the background to the project, Prof Al-Shamma said: "Traditional
biofuel mixes crops, methanol and a catalyst for between four to eight
hours - you end up with biofuel and a waste product, glycerin.

"But there are huge negatives; the hunt for crops has meant many Third World
countries have been paid more to grow biofuel crops than regular eating
crops.
"This has led to huge food shortages.

"Also, the solvent used is very expensive and the process takes a long
time."You end up with the biofuel but also have tonnes of glycerin. There's
only so much soap that the world needs from glycerin, so the rest ends up in
waste sites." He added: "This process is different; the raw material is
everywhere, think of all the fast food outlets and restaurants.

"At the moment, people have to pay to get rid of this and it ends up in
waste sites or contaminating sewerage; this way, there could never be enough
waste oil.
"The solvent used is on a three to one ratio, reducing it by 10 fold, it
requires 30 times less catalyst and the process takes a maximum of 15
minutes.

"One litre of oil makes one litre of biofuel - like for like - with less
glycerin, which we then use to make an additive to skim off the biofuel and
start the recycling process."
Nowhere else in the world is using this technology and his work has led to
Prof Al-Shamma addressing European leaders in the EU Parliament. He added:
"I think this will be the future because the big oil industry players are
investing in biofuel."

And Prof Al-Shamma's microwave technology doesn't only stop at vegetable
oil. The university has been given £580,000 to turn grass into LPG (Liquid
Petroleum Gas).
The university is hoping to take polluted, infertile grass and weeds from
brownfield sites and break down the sugar to create bio-ethanol.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...2534-23704319/