Chippy fat turned into fuel ‘as powerful and efficient as diesel’

Chippy fat turned into fuel ‘as powerful and efficient as diesel’

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in using leftover fat from chip shops to create a biofuel that is as effective and powerful as diesel. The breakthrough was achieved through a new method involving the use of enzymes to break down fatty acids in cooking oil into alkenes, which are the building blocks of fuels like petrol and diesel. Researchers at King’s College London have stated that this new renewable energy source has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Biofuels that can directly substitute petrol or diesel in car engines have long been promoted as a sustainable alternative, with fuels derived from food waste able to reduce emissions by up to 94 percent. However, these types of fuels have traditionally contained high levels of oxygen molecules that burn inefficiently, limiting their widespread use. The academics now claim that they have developed a completely green “chemical equivalent” to fossil fuels by modifying an enzyme to break down fatty acids from food waste and extracting the oxygen within them.

The technique is reported to be 1000 times more efficient than previous methods, placing this new biofuel on par with diesel in terms of effectiveness. Dr Alex Brogan, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at KCL, emphasized the importance of biofuels as a crucial avenue for industries like logistics to move away from fossil fuels. He highlighted the significance of investing in such technology to help countries like the UK meet their emission reduction targets.

The enzyme used in this process, known as P450 decarboxylase, typically requires water to function, resulting in a low yield of alkenes. To overcome this limitation, the modified enzyme was placed in a liquid salt solution while being exposed to UV light during mixing with fatty acids to activate the reaction. This method led to a significantly higher yield of alkenes compared to traditional water-based processes, making the production of the biofuel more energy-efficient and requiring fewer raw materials, thus improving sustainability.

Furthermore, the research team aims to leverage this technology to enhance chemical reactions in various fields beyond biofuel production, such as pharmaceuticals. Dr Leticia Zanphorlin from the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory, which collaborated on the research, expressed excitement about the potential to expand into producing different fuels, including gasoline and kerosene for the aviation sector. The team sees this innovation as a significant step towards addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges: climate change.

In summary, scientists have successfully developed a method to transform chippy fat into a biofuel that matches the power and efficiency of diesel, offering a promising solution to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. This innovative approach not only improves the sustainability of fuel production but also opens up possibilities for advancements in other industries beyond transportation.