Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Oct 1: A unique invention made by assistant professor of an engineering college in the district is making waves. Used cooking oil, which is detrimental for health, is used by this professor to produce eco-friendly biodiesel.
Dr Santhosh Poojary, who is an assistant professor with Nitte Engineering College and also the scientific assistant for the biological fuel center in the college (a government project), has invented biodiesel from cooking oil that is used for frying food. He is the first person to have made this unique invention. This biodiesel is being used in some city buses, school and college buses and government vehicles also.
Cooking oil used for frying is purchased at the rate of Rs 20 per liter in the Nitte biological fuel center. From this oil, around 90% of biodiesel is obtained depending upon the quality of the oil used for frying. This is sold at the rate of Rs 55 per liter. The fuel expenses for the owners of diesel engine vehicles come down considerably due to this. The invention center in the college has the capacity of producing 600 to 800 liters of biodiesel per month and is getting good response from the customers.
Dr Santhosh Poojary says, "Initially we used biodiesel for our college goods vehicle and it was successful. Later, we started using this in two to three buses of our college. Now other school and colleges are also taking this biodiesel for use in their buses. Recently, the biodiesel was used in the Tata Sumo and Bolero vehicles belonging to Karkala Taluk Panchayat under the order of the government. Dilraj Alva, president of Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners' Association has bought 1,000 liters of biodiesel from us for use in city buses. People are using it for tractor and tillers also."
"Biodiesel that is produced from the cooking oil used for frying is cheaper than the normal diesel available in the market. As this emits very low amount of toxic substances, it is eco-friendly also. Engine will last long because of the use of biodiesel. Instead of spoiling health by using the cooking oil for repeated frying, it is better to convert it as biodiesel, which will help the environment also," said Dr Santhosh Poojary, proud inventor of bio diesel.