The plan is coordinated by the Politecnico di Milano and proposes an innovative process for recovery. In Europe, 4 million tons of used vegetable oil are produced.
The Politecnico di Milano, coordinator of the WORLD project – Waste Oils RecycLe and Development – proposes an innovative, circular and sustainable process to transform used vegetable oil into a precious resource. The study was published in the prestigious international scientific journal RSC Sustainability of the British Royal Society of Chemistry, which rewarded its originality by dedicating the cover to it.
The aim of the WORLD project is to optimise the treatment processes of waste vegetable oils and improve the quality of final products, reduce waste and promote European independence in the supply of critical raw materials.
The use of vegetable oils is widespread, in fact, all over the planet and the activities related to cooking and preserving food generate a huge amount of waste oils. Every year, about 4 million tons of used vegetable oil are produced in Europe, a figure that represents only 4% of the total amount of this abundant and widespread product globally. If not disposed of properly, this waste can have a significant environmental impact.
WORLD proposes to recycle used vegetable oil into innovative materials that can be used as bio-lubricants, air purification devices and chemical components for fine chemicals from non-fossil precursors. These applications are a parallel supply chain to the well-known use in the production of biodiesel, which is in any case limited by law to 10% and concerns only the purest fraction of waste. In addition to the economic and technological benefits, the project has a strong social and environmental impact: raising awareness of the correct collection of used oils can reduce public costs related to incorrect disposal and prevent environmental damage. In addition, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) will assess the best strategies to minimise ecological, economic and social impact by adopting a ‘zero waste’ approach.
