Bogor Elementary School Turning Used Cooking Oil Into Biodiesel

Bogor, W Java, Oct 10 (Antara) - Students of a Bogor elementary school, SD Negeri Bantarjati 9, are conducting an innovative study of turning used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. "We are now trying to create biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil, despite it only being a small amount," said one of the school`s teachers, Ely Rachmawati, here Thursday. According to Ely, the processing of converting cooking oil into biodiesel is not difficult to follow, using methanol, caustic soda and cooking oil to make biodiesel. "We`ve practiced it with 3 liters of used cooking oil that is mixed with methanol, caustic soda, and then let it sit for 12 to 14 hours," she explained. The cooking oil and ethanol mixture will form a clear layer, and when mixed with two liters of water it is distilled to create the fuel. "The yellowish biodiesel can be tested for use as vehicle fuels and for other industrial equipment," said Ely. Ely said the biodiesel being produced by the students is only being done on a small scale, but could be supplied to local houses. The school is collecting used cooking oil from the students homes, averaging 6 to 7 liters per week. Elementary School Principal Yayah Komariah noted that the used cooking oil collection program is part of the City Government program to collect used cooking oil from residents in the community. Bogor City Government, through the Bogor Environmental Management Agency (BPLH), is collecting used cooking oils to be processed into biodiesel fuel for Trans-Pakuan busses. Used cooking oil is currently priced at Rp3.000 per liter by the Environmental Management Agency. Yayah added that the students efforts have received recognition from faculty and researchers from the Environmental Study program at the Graduate University of Indonesia.