Oil-rich United Arab Emirates looks to biodiesel

Gerald · 08-23-11, 09:32 AM

WATCH: Used cooking oil like this is being converted into biodiesel in a plant in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates

It is 11am in Dubai and already 42 degrees Celsius outside. Inside the warehouse it is barely any cooler.

Although workplaces in the United Arab Emirates are normally fitted with air conditioning, here they have purposefully restricted it to the offices.

"It's the chemical reactions," Karl Feilder, chairman of Neutral Fuels explains.

"They happen at 65 degrees so by keeping the factory temperature higher we expend less energy on the process.

"That makes it more efficient. That's better for the environment and it cuts costs."

He is pointing at the thirty metre long collection of industrial tanks and pipes through which the firm's main product is being made.

The room smells a bit like a chip shop. There is a reason for that.

They are making biodiesel - converting vegetable oil from local McDonald's restaurants so that it can be used to fuel trucks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14619678

Note: 22 August 2011 Last updated at 23:05 GMT

kraznyi_oktjabr · 08-23-11, 10:27 AM

Not really surprising in my opinion. Emirs of UAE (especially Dubai) have been looking for alternate profit sources in preparation to inevitable moment when oil reserves run out.

EDIT: With above I mean government support to program.

Jimbuna · 08-23-11, 11:39 AM

At last...a use has been found for McDonald's products.

MH · 08-23-11, 11:48 AM

Yea McDonald's chips always tasted to me like fried in mazut.

papa_smurf · 08-24-11, 04:51 AM

At least food crops are not been used to make Bio-diesel - dumbest idea ever.

Osmium Steele · 08-24-11, 08:22 AM

I hate it when the city bus drives by and I suddenly have a craving for french fries.

Task Force · 08-24-11, 11:16 AM

Hmm... but then how are we gonna get each Mc Donald's to make 900barrels of used cooking oil a day...

Catfish · 08-24-11, 12:50 PM

There is no need to further treat used vegetable oil if you want to use it in a Diesel engine. Just make sure it is filtered well !
You need a bit of pre-warming in the winter when it gets really cold, apart from that most older Diesels will run it without problem.
Running a Quantum station wagon since 6 years, mostly with rape seed oil and used filtered oil.

08-23-11, 09:32 AM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Oil-rich United Arab Emirates looks to biodiesel WATCH: Used cooking oil like this is being converted into biodiesel in a plant in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates It is 11am in Dubai and already 42 degrees Celsius outside. Inside the warehouse it is barely any cooler. Although workplaces in the United Arab Emirates are normally fitted with air conditioning, here they have purposefully restricted it to the offices. "It's the chemical reactions," Karl Feilder, chairman of Neutral Fuels explains. "They happen at 65 degrees so by keeping the factory temperature higher we expend less energy on the process. "That makes it more efficient. That's better for the environment and it cuts costs." He is pointing at the thirty metre long collection of industrial tanks and pipes through which the firm's main product is being made. The room smells a bit like a chip shop. There is a reason for that. They are making biodiesel - converting vegetable oil from local McDonald's restaurants so that it can be used to fuel trucks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14619678 Note: 22 August 2011 Last updated at 23:05 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-23-11, 10:27 AM	#2
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Not really surprising in my opinion. Emirs of UAE (especially Dubai) have been looking for alternate profit sources in preparation to inevitable moment when oil reserves run out. EDIT: With above I mean government support to program. __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House

08-23-11, 11:39 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	At last...a use has been found for McDonald's products. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-24-11, 04:51 AM	#5
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	At least food crops are not been used to make Bio-diesel - dumbest idea ever. __________________

08-24-11, 08:22 AM	#6
Osmium Steele Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Upper midwest USA Posts: 1,101 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	I hate it when the city bus drives by and I suddenly have a craving for french fries. __________________ In the month of July of the year 1348, between the feasts of St. Benedict and of St. Swithin, a strange thing came upon England... My U297 build thread

08-23-11, 11:48 AM	#4
MH Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,184 Downloads: 248 Uploads: 0	Yea McDonald's chips always tasted to me like fried in mazut.

08-24-11, 11:16 AM	#7
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Hmm... but then how are we gonna get each Mc Donald's to make 900barrels of used cooking oil a day... __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

08-24-11, 12:50 PM	#8
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,766 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	There is no need to further treat used vegetable oil if you want to use it in a Diesel engine. Just make sure it is filtered well ! You need a bit of pre-warming in the winter when it gets really cold, apart from that most older Diesels will run it without problem. Running a Quantum station wagon since 6 years, mostly with rape seed oil and used filtered oil.

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