Mitsubishi Kakoki to build biodiesel plant

Japans Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha Ltd. has begun developing a biodiesel manufacturing process jointly with Sun Care Fuels Co., a start-up launched by the University of Tsukuba. Mitsubishi has constructed a pilot plant in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, which can produce 1 kiloliter per day. The pilot plant creates biodiesel by mixing sunflower seed oil with methanol and separating out the by-product glycerin. Mitsubishi Kakoki has used its expertise in centrifugal separation technology to maintain the performance and longevity of diesel engines by removing impurities from the fuel. In addition to working to develop equipment that can use raw materials other than sunflower seed oil, the company seeks to improve operating costs, aiming to lower the cost per liter of fuel to ¥100 (US$0.81) on average. After confirming the reliability of a large-scale plant, the company will begin taking orders for a commercial plant that can turn out 200 kiloliters of biodiesel daily. (May 29, 2007)