Now, run your vehicle on waste plastic fuel! - Its going to be the future
Chennai, Mar 25 : In a major breakthrough in technology, students of Chennai break a hard nut, turning plastic into fuel, almost equivalent to petrol but comparatively very cheap!
Even as the new product has been certified by the Chennai Petroleum Corporation, these students have proved that there can also be an optimum utilisation of waste.
Mechanical engineering students of the Velammal College find a way out to dispose off non-degradable plastic by converting it into useful petroleum products like petrol, diesel and kerosene.
Through several experiments and a secret catalyst, a team of students discovered a method of generating petroleum products from one of the most problematic plastic waste. The team included Sridhar, Jaikar Sathish, V Lakshmanan and Guru Prasa.
"We make use of biomedical waste and plastic carry bags which mainly consist of waste polythene and polypropylene," said Jaikar, one of the students.
"We approached Chennai Petroleum Corporation. They have tested and certified the fuel being produced by students. Now we have also approached Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai to test its quality," said Dr Rathinasababathi, Principal of the college.
He added, "This petrol is pollution-free and gives extra mileage. It is also cost effective when compared to normal petrol."
These students have proved that there can also be an optimum utilisation of waste. It is estimated that India generates 5600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, out of which Chennai alone generates close to 150 tonnes of plastic waste everyday. That is bound to grow. It is reassuring that inventive minds all over India are working to turn a huge problem into an advantage- hopefully one that doesn't compromise the environment.
The technology adopted to achieve this innovation is very simple. Plastic waste is heated to a very high temperature of 110 :C, mixed with non-plastic wastes, compacted, and cut into blocks, which have a long shelf life. 'With low moisture levels and ash content and higher calorific values than coal, the blended fuels can easily substitute coal'. The technology, which is awaiting commercialization, has a market for both the industrial and domestic sectors. The industries that this technology can benefit are the ones that are energy-intensive: cement, sugar
Even as the new product has been certified by the Chennai Petroleum Corporation, these students have proved that there can also be an optimum utilisation of waste.
Mechanical engineering students of the Velammal College find a way out to dispose off non-degradable plastic by converting it into useful petroleum products like petrol, diesel and kerosene.
Through several experiments and a secret catalyst, a team of students discovered a method of generating petroleum products from one of the most problematic plastic waste. The team included Sridhar, Jaikar Sathish, V Lakshmanan and Guru Prasa.
"We make use of biomedical waste and plastic carry bags which mainly consist of waste polythene and polypropylene," said Jaikar, one of the students.
"We approached Chennai Petroleum Corporation. They have tested and certified the fuel being produced by students. Now we have also approached Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai to test its quality," said Dr Rathinasababathi, Principal of the college.
He added, "This petrol is pollution-free and gives extra mileage. It is also cost effective when compared to normal petrol."
These students have proved that there can also be an optimum utilisation of waste. It is estimated that India generates 5600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, out of which Chennai alone generates close to 150 tonnes of plastic waste everyday. That is bound to grow. It is reassuring that inventive minds all over India are working to turn a huge problem into an advantage- hopefully one that doesn't compromise the environment.
The technology adopted to achieve this innovation is very simple. Plastic waste is heated to a very high temperature of 110 :C, mixed with non-plastic wastes, compacted, and cut into blocks, which have a long shelf life. 'With low moisture levels and ash content and higher calorific values than coal, the blended fuels can easily substitute coal'. The technology, which is awaiting commercialization, has a market for both the industrial and domestic sectors. The industries that this technology can benefit are the ones that are energy-intensive: cement, sugar
