NED University Students Make Their Own Biodiesel

Students from NED University of Engineering and Technology have developed eco-friendly biodiesel from fish waste and other components. This type of biodiesel minimizes both air and marine pollution, saving foreign exchange spent on refinery diesel.

Under the supervision of their supervisor and Head of Department of Environmental Engineering, Dr. Mahmood Ali, a group of final-year Mechanical Engineering students of NED University completed a 2-month research project on fish waste and discarded viscera. It has been possible to produce biodiesel. A number of students have been involved in the research, including Muhammad Absar Ahmed, Zaki Ahmed, Talha Ahmed, and Huzaifa Iftikhar.

Absar Ahmed, one of the team members, said biodiesel has been produced before from various plant materials, but his group chose fish waste because it was abundant. Approximately, a million tons of fish and sea food are obtained in Pakistan every year, from which 3.5 lakh tons of waste is released every year. This waste is usually disposed of into the sea, causing the ocean to become polluted and affecting aquatic life.

Research students claim that one and a half million tons of oil or one million tons of biodiesel can be produced from the three and a half million tons of fish waste available in Pakistan, and that 20% of the diesel produced in the refinery can be made from biodiesel.

Not only will blending protect the environment, but it will also save foreign exchange on diesel and crude oil imports.

According to statistics, 0.77 million tons of diesel was imported in Pakistan last year, on which 17.3 billion dollars were spent. If 3.5 million tons of fish waste available in Pakistan is processed and 1 million tons of biodiesel is produced, then the import of diesel will increase. There will be a reduction of 100,000 tonnes, which will save $1.73 billion. Glycerine produced during the production of biodiesel from fish waste can be used for industrial purposes.

Dr. Mehmood Ali, who supervised the project to produce biodiesel from fish waste and ingredients, stated that the production of biodiesel from fish waste can be a profitable project on a commercial basis if the private sector invests in the NED University plant. And if they are prepared to provide technical support, including design.

Approximately 12 to 13% less expensive than diesel generated in a refinery is the cost of biodiesel made from fish waste, according to Dr. Mehmood Ali. However, this experiment took place in batches of 10 liters with solar energy that was up to 100 liters in size, if used on a pilot basis.

Powered units can produce fish waste biodiesel for 20 to 25 percent less than conventional diesel. In addition to having the same calorific value as normal diesel, biodiesel produced from fish waste is reintegrated into the environment through the kilocarbon cycle without harming it.