Biodiesel From Sewage Sludge

MTorrice writes "Scientists have developed a way to convert lipids from sewage sludge into biodiesel. The low cost and high yield of the sludge process may make it economically feasible as a source of biofuel, the researchers say. Today, biofuel producers use lipids in vegetable oils to derive biodiesel, a mixture of fatty-acid-like molecules. Biodiesel is compatible with existing diesel engines, burns with less pollution than petroleum-derived diesel does, and comes from renewable resources. But current biodiesel feedstocks are expensive, limiting the fuel's widespread use. The researchers from South Korea found that sewage sludge, the semisolid material left over from wastewater treatment, can yield 2,200 times more lipids than soybeans and costs 96% less to process. To turn the sludge lipids into biodiesel, the researchers heated them with methanol."

Comments

Smell

[FishTankX]

They say that fryer oil based bio diesel smells vaguely of fries. This slightly concerns me.. as sewage based bio diesel would smell like...

Re:Smell

[tzot]

Ah, shit.
Oh, shit.

Re:Smell

[Anne Thwacks]

I like the smell of diesel. Partly because the combination of raw sewage, diesel and dead fish brings back memories of going to the seaside when I was young!

It's not a joke anymore

[Chewbacon]

I've never taken my wife seriously when she's said my poo smells so bad I could use it to fuel my truck for the life of the vehicle.