An important compound that does not come to mind in cigarette butts.. What is it?

Arabia Weather - It may not come to mind that used cigarette butts can be an important source of compounds beneficial to the environment, but this is what scientists have recently shown.

In an attempt to significantly reduce production costs and its environmental impact, scientists have revealed a clever way to reuse cigarette waste to produce biodiesel. In the context of growing concerns about the environment and the search for clean alternatives to fossil fuels, biodiesel is emerging as a promising option, according to what was reported by the "Interesting" website. "Engineering" .

Biodiesel, derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, offers the potential for biodegradation, decomposing up to four times faster than conventional petroleum-derived diesel, and offers an environmentally friendly alternative.

However, the high cost of producing biodiesel and potential pollution from biomass sources has hampered its widespread use. To address these challenges, researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have found a new solution by incorporating a byproduct of cigarette waste recycling into the production process. .

Use of cigarette filter compounds to enhance biodiesel production

Sami Youssef, principal researcher at KTU's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, confirmed that Triacetin, which is mainly used in the manufacture of biodiesel, is abundant in cigarette filters.

Scientists were able to extract valuable components from cigarette waste using pyrolysis processes, or what is known as the pyrolysis process.

These processes, carried out at different temperatures, resulted in the production of oil and gas from the waste, with a notable content of Triacetin. This compound can be incorporated as an additive into biodiesel production processes, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.

This innovative approach represents an effective response to the challenges of the environmental impact of cigarette waste, utilizing its components into practical, usable applications.

Read also:

Smoking is good for your health.. How so?

Recycling e-cigarettes is almost impossible, so where do they go?

Sources:

alarabiya

aljadeed