UAE researchers produce biodiesel from date pits
Date pits have been found to contain nearly 12% oil that is suitable for biodiesel production at about 90% efficiency, according to a team from UAE University. When the date-based biodiesel is combusted, methane and hydrogen was produced, which could be captured for further use as energy. About 40 million date palms are planted around the UAE with most pits going to waste, though some are used to produce soaps and cosmetics.

In the UAE, a group researchers led by UAE University found that date pits hold nearly 12% oil that is suitable for biodiesel production at about 90% efficiency. The study Biodiesel Production from Oils Extracted from Date Pits, appears in the journal Green and Sustainable Chemistry.

“It’s a waste material. It’s not a valuable material we’re looking at … We’re making use of it before we discard it … Anything we can get of value out of it will be a positive,” Dr Sulaiman Al Zuhair of UAE University told The National. The

When the date-based biodiesel is combusted, the research team said they detected methane and hydrogen produced, which could be captured for further use as energy. About 40 million date palms are planted around the UAE with most pits going to waste, though some are used to produce soaps and cosmetics but before then it was used as charcoal in ancient times.