IIT prof uses Rajasthani clay as catalyst for converting bio-oil into fuel

An IIT professor here has claimed to have developed a catalytic process using Rajasthani clay for converting bio-oil from organic waste into transport fuel at a considerably lower temperature, paving way for its mass production.

An IIT professor here has claimed to have developed a catalytic process using Rajasthani clay for converting bio-oil from organic waste into transport fuel at a considerably lower temperature, paving way for its mass production. The novel catalytic process with the use of Rajasthani clay has been developed by Rakesh Kumar Sharma of IIT, Jodhpur’s Chemistry Department, along with postdoctoral researcher Krishna Priya of the department. A catalyst is a substance which fastens a chemical reaction without taking part in it.

“The process of converting organic waste into fuel was not economically viable earlier due to high temperature and energy requirements in the process. But with the help of refined Rajasthan clay, we have developed a system which has brought down the temperature and energy requirement in the process,” said Sharma. “The reaction in this process was extremely fast and took place at just around 250 degree centigrade temperature, far below the temperature in the conventional process, to give the petroleum-grade fuel,” he added.

Sharma has developed many Rajasthani clay-based effective catalytic systems for difficult chemical processes under milder temperature conditions. These catalytic systems include solid lubricants for industrial applications, catalytic converters for four-wheelers to reduce pollution and water purification technology. IIT spokesperson Amardeep Sharma said the Institute has applied for patenting the process.

The Department of Biotechnology of the Union government has supported this study under its National Bio-Energy Mission, he said.

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