Though biodiesel promises minimal emissions as vehicles run on it, its production, however, generates a lot of waste. As part of a strangely interesting, circular progression, some Brigham Young University-Hawai’i students are making soap from this waste. Well, I said circular because Hawai’i Reserves Inc., the managing company for the Mormon Church properties in Lā’ie, utilizes the waste cooking oil from the University to make biodiesel for tractors and other agricultural tools. Next, BYUH takes the waste from biofuel production at HRI and converts it into a foaming liquid soap.
Daniel Clark, maintenance mechanic for HRI, first made about 150 gallons of raw soap from glycerol. However, he couldn’t continue it and passed the project on to BYUH for further refining of soap. This soap, costing about $2 a liter, is being used by BYUH food services.
Via: Honolulu Advertiser