The National Polytechnic Institute produces biodiesel from sargassum

For four years, the National Polytechnic Institute has been producing biodiesel from sargassum in its research centers, based on residual oils generated in hotel kitchens in Cancun, said Alicia Hernandez, a researcher at the university.

The National Polytechnic Institute produces biodiesel from sargassum
Sargassum. Image by hat3m from Pixabay

According to Alicia Hernandez, a researcher at the National Polytechnic Institute, the production of biodiesel from sargassum has been carried out for the last four years in its research centers, based on residual oils generated in the kitchens of hotels in Cancun, said Alicia Hernandez, researcher of this house of studies.

She explained that this is a green chemistry scheme, which means that the production of this biodiesel does not affect the environment, which is essential within the parameters of sustainability. With a production capacity of 500 liters per day, this chemical process seeks to give a productive end to the large amount of sargassum that arrives at Quintana Roo.

Biodiesel allows obtaining 5% less energy than diesel oil but has high lubricity, a condition that facilitates compensating the lower energy production and achieving efficiency and performance identical to that achieved with fossil fuels. This higher lubricity of biodiesel makes it possible to optimize to a great extent the useful life of the propellants that use this energy source.