Kathmandu. Scientists looking for alternatives to petrol and diesel have successfully worked to produce oil from bamboo.
Researchers at the Wooster Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, USA, have used a unique method to turn bamboo into an oil-like substance. In the laboratory, bamboo was heated to 300 degrees Celsius for just 10 minutes. In this test, more than 35 percent of the bamboo was converted into an oil-like raw material. This oil can be further refined to become fuel for cars, planes, and trains.
The researchers estimate that if produced in large quantities, this fuel could cost about $2.75 per gallon of gasoline. The research also claims that it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 26 times compared to diesel. These results are based on research and estimates.
How was oil made from bass?
The researchers used hydrothermal liquefaction technology to produce oil from bamboo. This method uses water, high heat, and high pressure to create an oil-like substance from plants. In this test, bamboo was heated to 300 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. No separate chemical catalyst was used.
Catalysts are substances that help speed up the process. In the test, 35.6 percent of the weight of bamboo was converted into a raw material like oil. However, this oil cannot be used directly in vehicles. To make fuel from it, it must first be cleaned and further processed.
What are the benefits of making fuel from bamboo?TAG_OPEN_strong_32
Bamboo grows faster and can grow on less fertile land. Therefore, scientists are considering it as a good option for fuel production. At present, biofuels are also produced from crops like maize, but agricultural land is needed to grow these crops.
According to the research, less land is needed than maize to make fuel from bamboo. The researchers estimate that bamboo farming requires about 13 percent of the land area to produce fuel equivalent to the energy production from maize. However, this is an estimate based on research and cannot be considered as the result of large-scale production at present.
How much does a gallon of fuel cost?TAG_OPEN_span_27
The researchers estimate that once mass production starts, the cost of fuel made from bamboo can be around $2.75 per gallon of petrol. This is the estimated cost of fuel production. It cannot be directly compared to the price of petrol and diesel available at petrol pumps.
It also requires money to set up a factory to produce fuel, to operate machinery and to transport bamboo. So the actual cost will be known only after mass production starts.
How much pollution will it reduce compared to TAG_OPEN_strong_30 diesel?
According to research, fuel made from bamboo can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 26 times compared to diesel. Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming. However, to truly assess this benefit, the entire process from growing bamboo to producing and burning fuel needs to be examined.
Pollution from the energy used and other processes should also be considered. Therefore, it cannot be considered as a definitive conclusion at this time. This research shows the possibility of producing vehicle fuel from bamboo. However, it cannot be considered as a complete alternative to petrol and diesel yet.
Large-scale production and testing will be required to determine its effectiveness and cost of production. If further research yields positive results, bamboo fuel can be used in cars, aircraft, and trains in the future. More research is currently needed on this technology.
