‘Gutter oil’ turned to biodiesel in Shanghai

World
Europe

China has found an innovative use of "gutter oil" by converting it into biodiesel. Researchers claim that initial trials reveal that the new fuel has low emissions compared to that of conventional diesel.

The gutter oil refers to recycled cooking oil that has been banned for harmful effect on human health. Recently, Shanghai city has managed to use the oil as biodiesel to power automobiles. The biodiesel, produced from gutter oil is known as B5 biodiesel has been on the market for a week.

Cheaper, great potential

The B5 biodiesel, a mixture of five-percent biodiesel and 95-percent petrodiesel, is sold at 5.72 yuan (0.86 US dollar) per liter, 0.3 yuan cheaper than the conventional diesel. The price discount has appealed to many drivers.

The B5 biodiesel is sold 5.72 yuan (about 0.86 US dollars) per liter. /CCTV Photo

At present, only two Sinopec filling stations in Shanghai are selling B5 biodiesel. The five-ton B5 biodiesel was a sold out on the launch day. In the last one week, more than 500 vehicles tried the fuel.

“Using this B5 biodiesel saves about 10 yuan per day per vehicle, based on the mileage a vehicle travels,” said Shen Tianming, manager of Shanghai Qunxin Municipal Development Company. “There are currently 30 vehicles in my company. Therefore, it saves about 9,000 yuan per month and 100,000 yuan a year.”

"One to two stations in each district in Shanghai will be selected to expand the pilot areas in one month," said Lyu Wei, assistant manager of Sinopec Shanghai Petroleum Branch, adding that the Sinopec gas stations will comprehensively promote B5 biodiesel.

Same performance but less emission

Currently, 104 buses and 32 sanitation vehicles in Shanghai have used the biodiesel, which accumulatively ran for about 15.61 million kilometers and 83,100 kilometers respectively.

Shanghai city has managed to turn the "gutter oil" into biodiesel that can power vehicles. /CCTV Photo

After running tests for vehicles using B5 biodiesel, it has proved that the power, efficiency, and emission performance of the vehicles remain the same with when they used diesel, said Lou Diming, professor of School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, who have been dedicated to the relevant subject of transforming the gutter oil to biodiesel for the past five years.

Besides same performance, the use of biodiesel reduces the emission of pollution gas, like heavy metal particles and fine particulate matters.

According to Ye Jinqing, a driver of sanitation vehicle who has come to refuel the vehicle with B5 biodiesel for the second time, the most significant feature of the biodiesel is that his vehicle emits less fume and has no impact on vehicle's performance.

The gas station staff refuels the sanitation vehicle with B5 biodiesel. /CCTV Photo

“The emission of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide is reduced by over 10 percent, as well as the particulate matters,” said Lou. “The decrease means less emission, less impact on the air.”

The biodiesel may also be applied to ships in the future, said Yang Jinsong, director of Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration, to make a wider usage of it. He also encouraged the government to give comprehensive support to the R&D enterprises, paving a way for their orderly and sustainable development.

1068km