Many restaurants today are opting for environmentally friendly methods to reuse the waste they produce. You can do the same by recycling used/ waste oil and grease into energy. These materials can be transformed into biodiesel, which is one of the top eco-friendly feedstocks. When compared to standard diesel, biodiesel considerably reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.
So, what exactly is the used/ waste oil and grease, who collects it, and what happens after collection? Let’s find out”
What Classifies as Used and Waste Oil and Grease?
There are two major sources for creating biodiesel – used cooking oil and trap grease. Used cooking oil, usually vegetable oil, comes from your restaurant’s fryers. This type of used oil waste is the easiest and cleanest one to recycle.
The other biodiesel source is trap grease, which is also found in restaurants. Trap grease is a type of waste collected by grease traps in the kitchen drains. Your kitchen will have these grease traps to prevent fats and oils in food from landing into sewer pipes.
Who Collects These Materials?
Disposal companies will purchase the used oil; they will come to collect it. They generally use it to make biodiesel or animal feed supplements. To find a suitable oil collection service, the type who buys used cooking oil near me in the search box.
On the other hand, disposing of trap grease requires a kitchen grease disposal service. When you opt for this service, they will first carry out grease removal and then initiate grease disposal or grease recycling.
How Is the Waste Converted to Biodiesel?
There are numerous methods for converting used cooking oil and trap grease to biodiesel. Generally, the free form acids in the waste must be reduced. One specific method is acid pre-treatment, which entails an acid catalyst and alcohol. An alternative method is ‘glycerolysis,’ in which glycerine is added to the material. Each method has its downsides, which is why other, more effective methods are continuously being developed.
