Biodiesel: From deep fryer to engine

CRISPY, sweet and a little bit salty, the pisang goreng is enjoyed as favourite tea time snack.

Roadside stall owner Johar Melan uses vegetable oil to fry the banana fritters.

Now, the used vegetable oil that is collected each month from his stall in Taman Chi Liung, Klang, together with waste cooking oil (WCO) from other shops has become the main component in an alternative diesel known as “biodiesel”.

Uni10 Energy Sdn Bhd uses WCO that is converted into biodiesel, which is used for generators in 22 rural schools and engines of fishermen boats.

With a modular, compact, high performance plant set up in Universiti Tenaga Nasional that enables fuel processing, its managing director Muhamad Nazrain Muhamad Nassri and co-founder Engineering Manager Mohamad Khairul Fadhli Ramli and their team of 22 staff, are on a mission to support the four pillars of National Green Technology Policy toward sustainable energy, environmental protection and preservation, as well as the improvement of socio-economic quality.

“Our aim is to promote alternative sources of fuel for a better environment and at the same time support local authorities’ efforts towards zero WCO contamination of the drainage which will contribute in reducing the fiscal burden in cleaning or replacing damaged drains,” he said.

He said the company is working with 25 local authorities across peninsular Malaysia to recycle WCO.

“We buy the WCO at RM1 from restaurants and collection points with high volumes.

“Our monthly collection of WCO is estimated at 10,000 litres where 90% comes from Selangor and another 10% from Malacaa,” he added.

Uni10 Energy provides 60 litre drums to collection points and restaurants.

Muhamad Nazrain said people in Selangor have been open to the awareness campaign which delivers the message of clean and healthy environment, achievable via proper disposal of WCO.

“Our collection mechanism, effective services and giving a profitable rate for the used cooking oil has helped prevent water pollution due to unregulated WCO disposal.

“More awareness programmes at grassroots level need to be done to get total support and this is where we are working with the local authorities,” he said.

Mohamad Khairul said through a process called transesterification, the used cooking oil is converted into biodiesel.

“Used oil is already processed which cuts down on production time and effort.

“One kg of oil can produce 90% biodiesel with 10% glycerine and methanol,” he said.

“We have cost to bear and this is where volume counts.

“In the end, the selling price of biodiesel is 20% higher than petro diesel.

“Biodiesel reduces the emissions of noxious gases like carbon and hydrocarbon.

“It is recommended for engines, owing to its cleaner combustion,” he said.

Operations manager Syahrul Azwa Idris said to contribute to the sustainability of WCO biodiesel production which has been regarded the most preferred end-use of WCO, each local council must have a centralised collection centre.

“All local authorities must think of a collection centre as biodiesel is gaining ground as a source of green energy,” he said.