Biodiesel from used cooking oil to fuel a revolution

The Indriyam team with the working model of the plant they developed to convert used cooking oil to biodiesel, in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

Start-up project to generate 250 litres per day

Imagine a local taxi or truck fleet operating on blended biodiesel manufactured in-house from used cooking oil sourced from restaurants, caterers and bakeries in the neighbourhood. That situation may sound too far-fetched but it could become a reality soon, if the pioneering work by a biotechnology start-up here comes to fruition.

Sensing an opportunity in the government’s drive to cut oil imports by turning used cooking oil into biodiesel, the company named Indriyam Biologics has developed a working model that can generate 250 litres of biodiesel per day.

Pilot project

“If things go according to schedule, the pilot project will be launched next month,” says R. Dileepkumar, founder and CEO of the start-up operating from SCTIMST-TIMED, a technology business incubator established by the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) here.

Launched with funding from the Carbon Zero challenge of IIT- Madras, Kerala Startup Mission, Department of Science and Technology, and the SCTIMST, the project involves development of a compact, portable and safe-to-handle processor for localised production of biodiesel from used cooking oil. The company has applied for a design patent on the miniaturised plant that could switch from the chemical to enzyme-based trans-esterification process.

“We hit upon the idea of small-scale production of biodiesel, as most of the big biodiesel plants in the country suffer from poor supply of raw material,” explains Dr. Dileepkumar.

“On the other hand, the reuse of cooking oil poses a health hazard while its disposal pollutes the environment. Conversion to biodiesel addresses both the issues.”

The company hopes to tap big restaurants, caterers and units making banana chips and other fried snacks to ensure the supply of raw material. It is in talks with the Kudumbasree Mission to establish decentralised units.

In August this year, the Central government had announced that State-run oil marketing companies would procure the entire supply of biodiesel produced from used cooking oil for a three-year period. The scheme that seeks to ensure the supply of biodiesel to be blended with normal diesel has been launched in 100 cities across the country.

FSSAI direction

Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI ) had stated that from March 3, eateries would not be allowed to reuse cooking oil more than three times. FSSAI has directed all food business operators to dispose of used cooking oil to authorised agencies for conversion to biodiesel.