Yogyakarta's Student Invents Device To Create Fuel From PLastic Waste

Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, July 10 (Antara) - A Junior Highschool student of Yogyakarta, Dhiki Andhika Putra, invented a technology to process plastic waste into oil fuel such as kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline. "The way this device works is so simple. Plastic wastes are inserted into the reactor and then heated to 200 degree Celsius. The molten plastic will form separate substance based on the material types," Dhiki Andhika Putra, student of Pengasih 3 Junior High School, Kulon Progo District, said here Wednesday. Discussing with his friends via social media, Dhiki came up with the idea to devise a waste-to-fuel processing unit that could be scientifically justified. Dhiki`s plastic waste processing unit consists of a barrel to heaten up the plastic waste and three condensers to contain steam from the heated plastic waste. The plastic waste is heated using firewood. The steam resulted from the heating process is then distilled into the three condensers to form gasoline, diesel oil and kerosene. The whole process took about four hours, Dhiki said. Two kilogram plastic waste would produce one liter of oil fuel, comprising kerosene, diesel fuel, and gasoline, while 25kg of plastic waste, Dhiki said, could yield 16 liters of oil fuel. Moreover, one kilogram waste of plastic glass or bottle could produce 0.8 liter of fuel, he said. "I buy one kilogram of plastic waste for Rp500 (less than one US cent). I have enough operational cost. For now, I only process the waste to oil fuel by order," Dhiki said. Dhiki claimed the octane level of his fuel to reach 150, in fact the level of nationally manufactured gasoline (premium) is 88, while pertamax is 95. "We have used and tested the gasoline to run a two-stroke engine motorcycle. The result was good. Officials from Yogyakarta Administration were scheduled to do an emission test next week," Dhiki said. Besides the plastic waste processing unit, Dhiki also managed to devise desalination device to produce ready-to-drink clean water from salt water. However, Dhiki has not had his inventions patented. He devised the instruments merely to get scholarships to continue his study. Head of Geology and Energy Office of Yogyakarta Administration Taufik Prihadi really appreciated Dhiki`s invention. "We will propose this to the Renewable Energy and Conservation Directorate of The Energy and Mineral Resource Ministry to help Dhiki develop his technology," Prihadi said.