Punjab University Institute of Chemistry working on developing bio-diesel
Lahore: Punjab University Institute of Chemistry is experimenting in its laboratory on ethyl alcohol, which is obtained from molasses, to get bio-diesel. This fuel is cheaper and cause 70 percent less pollution than other fuels. Over 80 percent vehicles in Brazil use this fuel.
PU Faculty of Science Dean Prof Dr Jamil Anwar Chaudhry expressed these views while briefing about the performance of the institute in a ceremony here on Saturday.
Molasses, a waste material of sugar industries, can be converted into bio-diesel and used as fuel in vehicles.
He said chemical industries are getting molasses from sugar industries and converting it into ethyl alcohol and a lot of money is being earned by exporting it and Crystalline Chemical Industries of Sargodha is worth mentioning here in this regard. He said there is dire need to create awareness among sugar industries so that molasses and money could be saved by converting it into fuel by chemical process.
He said government had earlier introduced ECO-I fuel at petrol pumps as an experiment which could not be developed due to proper advertisement among the masses and the project was stopped. Dr Jamil said the institute has the capacity to provide technical consultancy for the cleaning of waste water at each level. He said the institute had been providing maximum analytical facilities to pharmaceutical and other national industries and this is not only benefiting the industries but also helping to highlight the country's image at international level. He said the institute will offer special courses of chemistry in local industry including leather, sugar and textile in future so that maximum people could benefit from chemistry knowledge.
Institute's Scientific Officer Waheed-uz-Zaman said the institute had been playing an important role to facilitate industries analytically by overcoming increasing environmental and water pollution in the country.
He said that institute's analytical laboratory is certified of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and all industries are getting tests of their waste water. The experiments had been taken on recycling of used plastic bottles and shopping bags according to international standards and if experiments could be carried out on maximum level in the light of these experiments, it can helpful in reducing importing prices and reducing environmental pollution. Special tests on industrial waste water and drinking water are being carried out in the institute's laboratory. PU Institute of Chemistry is also working on saving the marine life from the harmful effects of polluted water of the industries by utilizing the wheat straw, rice husk, corncob and low quality coal.
As many as 72 research papers of the faculty members of the institute of chemistry were published in international research journals last year, Dr Jamil added. The Nation
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