Hyderabad mechanical engineer claims he can turn waste plastic into fuel

Satish Kumar, a Hyderabad-based mechanical engineer, claims he can turn plastic into fuel.

With our natural resources rapidly depleting, this could act as a great contribution to our environment.

Satish uses a 3-step reverse engineering process to recycle plastic under indirectly heated vaccum conditions. During the process, it is de-polymerised, gasified and then, condensed.

The process helps recycle the plastic into diesel, aviation fuel and petrol.

"About 500 kg of non-recyclable plastic can produce 400 litres of fuel," Satish told Deccan Chronicle.

FYI: What is this 3-step reverse engineering process called?

Known as Plastic Pyrolysis, which produces combustible fluids that resemble petrol but aren't same.

"It's a simple process which requires no water and doesn't release waste water. Neither does it pollute the air as the process happens in vacuum," Mr Kumar said.

How did it all start?

He started his unit in 2016, and turned 50 tonnes into fuel. The unit mainly uses the waste plastic obtained from NGOs or industries.

As the plastic cannot be recycled after 6 cycles, generally, it is thrown away by the companies.

But, with the help of Satish's process, even dead plastic can be useful.

According to a report by Deccan Chronicle, Satish sells the fuel for Rs 40-50 per litre to local industries. However, the usability of this fuel for vehicles is yet to be tested.

Nonetheless, the initiative is currently acting as a helping hand for industries and is definitely for the betterment of the environment.