As part of their 36th anniversary celebration, the UPLB Society of Chemical Engineering Students (UPLB SChemES) has recently launched “Re: NEW PH: Protecting the Environment through Chemical Engineering Solutions” as a flagship service-oriented event which aims to promote the use of biofuels as an alternative fuel in the university. Among the highlights of this event, which runs from November 2022, is the conduct of a research project on the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil that will be collected within UPLB and nearby communities.

From the initial result of the low-carbon university initiative of UPLB-ILCAL, it was identified that one of the hotspots in the university is the transportation sector. Hence, this research project entitled “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential of Biodiesel Production from Used Cooking Oil Waste”, in collaboration with the UPLB Interdisciplinary Biofuels Research Studies Center, UPLB Department of Chemical Engineering, and the UPLB SChemES, is being conducted to address this issue through the development of a conversion technology to produce biodiesel from used cooking oil.

The collected cooking oil will be characterized first to optimize the pre-treatment for more efficient conversion. This project will be able to reduce GHG emissions from the university’s transport sector by providing an alternative fuel while also promoting responsible waste management.

The organization is currently calling for donations of used cooking oil from UPLB constituents, nearby business communities, and LGU until February 3 for this sustainable initiative to materialize. The collection is done once a week, with its main storage facility at the Department of Chemical Engineering.

According to UPLB SChemES, this event is foreseen to support certain local sectors regarding the current issue of rising oil prices, inhibit detrimental effects of the fossil fuel industry, and propose responsible waste management of used cooking oil.