Chinese scientists say shrimp shells can speed up catalytic process

Environmentally friendly fuel does not immediately spring to mind when peeling prawns, but Chinese scientists claim shrimp shells may have an important role to play in improving biodiesel production efficiency. Scientists at Hua Zhong Agriculture University in China’s Wuhan province have experimented with chitin, the main component in prawn shells, and found it helped convert organic oils into biodiesel at a rate of 89% in three hours. “They can achieve as much speed and efficiency as traditional catalysts in biodiesel production without environmental pollution and resource waste,” Xinsheng Zheng, one of the scientists involved in the research, told Reuters. To convert organic oils faster and under less extreme heat, a liquid catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, is usually used. The Chinese scientists found that carbonized chitin became very porous, making it easier for a catalyst to do its work. (August 14, 2009)