IIT prof shows how to generate power from non-edible oilseeds
6 Nov 2014 6:31 AM IST
Just appropriate for use in the farm sector, Raheman’s discovery has hit the headlines in the Journal of Fuel but the professor from IIT KGP’s Agricultural and Food Engineering Department is yet to apply for a patent from the Government of India. However, his experiments with production of bio-fuel from seeds was acknowledged way back in 2003(and patented by him).
Since then, Prof Raheman has been working on a DST(Department of Science and Technology) project to find a way for generating electricity from seedcake – a finding which could easily be used to lighting up rural homes in India. ‘Gassification of the seedcake(a by product of bio-deisel) can generate electricity, which can translate into both mechanical as well as electrical power. I have submitted my findings to DST’, Prof Raheman told Millennium Post.
The whole process really sounded quite simple when the professor explained it to Millennium Post. Initially it meant procuring non edible seeds(like jatropha), extracting oil from it and processing it to impart fuel-like or burning properties. ‘The process involves adding some chemicals, all of which can be completed within six hours. During this process, free fatty acids are removed. Bio diesel is the end product and is extremely useful for the rural, agrarian sector of India’, says Prof Raheman.
Since then, Prof Raheman has been working on a DST(Department of Science and Technology) project to find a way for generating electricity from seedcake – a finding which could easily be used to lighting up rural homes in India. ‘Gassification of the seedcake(a by product of bio-deisel) can generate electricity, which can translate into both mechanical as well as electrical power. I have submitted my findings to DST’, Prof Raheman told Millennium Post.
The whole process really sounded quite simple when the professor explained it to Millennium Post. Initially it meant procuring non edible seeds(like jatropha), extracting oil from it and processing it to impart fuel-like or burning properties. ‘The process involves adding some chemicals, all of which can be completed within six hours. During this process, free fatty acids are removed. Bio diesel is the end product and is extremely useful for the rural, agrarian sector of India’, says Prof Raheman.
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