Orange peel turned into oil

York: A scientist in the UK has built a microwave which he claims can turn orange peels into oil.

James Clark at the University of York says that the high-powered microwave could break down the molecules in fruit peels to release gasses that could be collected and distilled into a liquid product. These valuable gases can then be used to produce oil, plastics, chemicals and fuels.

According to James, the microwave method could also be used on a variety of plant-based waste to make fuel or other products. They include straw, cashew nut shells, apple peels, coffee or rice husks.

“Orange peels are an excellent example of a wasted resource. In Brazil, the world’s largest producer of orange juice, half the orange fruit is left as waste once the juice has been removed. This corresponds to eight million tons a year of orange peel that can be used to produce chemicals, materials and fuels,” he said.

Clark built the GB £200 000 microwave, which looks like a one found in any kitchen, at his laboratory in the Green Chemistry Centre at the University of York.

It can only treat small amounts of food waste, but soon, a model that can process 30kg of waste an hour is due to be in operation. Clark says that much bigger models, costing about £1 000 000 [one million pounds] could treat six tons of food waste an hour and could soon become a familiar sight at recycling centres across the United Kingdom.

They could also be sited at shopping centres to treat waste food from cafes and restaurants. “The unique feature of our microwave is that we work at deliberately low temperatures. We never go above 200 degrees Celsius. You can take the limonene [the substance that gives citrus fruits their smell] off or you can turn limonene into other chemicals. It works really well with waste paper. It can take a big range of bio-waste material,” Clark said.

Orange Peel