They achieve biofuel from waste tangerines.

Graduate students of the University of Mie, Japan, have produced a biofuel from mandarins from the region.

Researchers from the University's Graduate School of Bioresources, They fermented spoiled fruit and unsold fruit, and they plan to commercialize the technique in the next two or three years.

AND Mie Nanki, which represents the group of Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan in the prefecture, says that around 150 tons of harvest is thrown away every year in Mihama, where the group is based, and in neighboring Kumano. Two thirds end up being incinerated, what it costs around 2,5 million yen.

The researchers produced about 20 milliliters of biobutanol, from 3 kg of mandarin waste by adding bacteria and letting the mixture ferment near 10 days.

Last September, The team demonstrated that the product was viable as a fuel when they tested it in a vehicle. 80 cm radio controlled, instead of gasoline.

Researchers had previously produced ethanol from mandarin juice extract. But butanol is more efficient than ethanol since its properties are similar to those of gasoline..

However, The technology used in the fermentation process is still under development, Therefore, the use of mandarin as biofuel is not widespread yet..

Researchers believe one use for biobutanol could be as fuel for agricultural equipment and for heating greenhouses..

However, The process produces waste that in turn requires disposal. The team is currently considering ways to address this latest difficulty..