Europe's scientists have developed a way to convert waste fat into high-quality fuel.This offers an ideal feedstock for greasoline plants and can help boost the small businesses in the sector.The goal of the 'New technology for conversion of waste fats to high-quality fuels'Greasoline project was to convert waste fats into diesel and kerosene. The EU-funded project generated hydrocarbons from fatty acids using catalytic pyrolysis, a process for breaking down organic material using heat in the absence of oxygen. The catalyst employed was activated charcoal, which has certain advantages with regard to applicability, structure and regeneration. Research showed that poor-quality waste fats and oils contain high levels of fatty acids and are an ideal low-cost feedstock for Greasoline plants. Therefore, the technology developed by the consortium can contribute to supplies of biofuels without impinging on valuable food reserves.The collection of waste fats and operation of plants is a major business opportunity for Europe's small and medium-sized enterprises. The technology can also be exported around the globe to help reduce the extraction of fossil fuels from the natural environment.

Dr. Amal Altalhi is an Assist. Prof. of physical chemistry, in The Chemistry Department, AlTaif University, Faculty of Science, AlTaif, KSA. From 2011 to 2014 she got her PH.D in physical chemistry from Hull University,UK in 'Energy Conversion and Storage via Photoelectrochemical Systems' , from 2009 to 2011 she got her M.Sc. in General Chemistry.