Researchers at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) are exploring ways to refine glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production from used cooking oil, for potential use in cosmetics.
The research is being undertaken by the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering (DREE) at the Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute in Coimbatore. The department is studying methods to purify crude glycerol by removing residues generated during the biodiesel production process, The Hindu reported.
Used cooking oil is converted into biodiesel through transesterification. The resulting biodiesel has more than 90% of the viscosity characteristics of petroleum diesel, according to the department. However, the crude glycerol generated during the process has so far remained largely untapped as a value-added product.
“We will be working on the processes for purification of glycerol,” DREE Head D Ramesh said.
He said the availability of used cooking oil for conversion into biofuel, though still limited, had improved as the Food Safety Department tightened monitoring of inventories at major restaurants to discourage the reuse of cooking oil.
Ramesh said biodiesel produced from used cooking oil was of better quality compared with biodiesel derived from non-edible oils.
The department demonstrated the use of biodiesel for lighting lamps on Tuesday as part of World Biofuel Day celebrations. TNAU Institute Dean P Rajkumar, along with faculty and students of the department, attended the demonstration.
The researchers said successful purification of glycerol could open up an additional value stream from used cooking oil and improve the overall economics of waste-based biodiesel production.
