Kenyan Innovator Transforms Plastic Waste into Fuel, Addressing the Global Plastic Crisis.
James Muritu, along with his company Progreen Innovations Limited, is pioneering the conversion of plastic waste into fuel to power a wide range of vehicles and machinery. Employing a high-temperature, oxygen-free process known as pyrolysis, Muritu effectively converts plastic waste back into a valuable oil or hydrocarbon liquid.
An additional benefit of this process is the production of biochar, which is utilized as a fuel source for various applications, including furnaces.
The innovation offers two distinct alternative fuels: one suitable for smaller to medium-sized machinery (akin to petrol) and the other designed for heavy-duty diesel engines, such as generators and vehicles. Muritu himself employs this groundbreaking technology to power his own vehicle.
This development arrives in the midst of a global plastic waste crisis, with the United Nations Environment Programme reporting an annual production of a staggering 400 million tonnes of waste worldwide.
Alarming statistics reveal that merely 12% of this waste undergoes incineration, while a mere 9% is recycled. Consequ犀利士 ently, plastic waste that finds its way into landfills or natural environments poses an enduring challenge due to its robust and persistent chemical composition.
Innovation Offers Sustainable Solutions to Plastic Waste Crisis
Nickson Otieno, a respected local climate change expert and sustainability consultant, hails James Muritu’s pioneering plastic waste transformation as a vital step toward addressing environmental concerns.
Otieno emphasizes that the most effective strategy for curbing carbon emissions is to reduce plastic production altogether, urging the exploration of alternative materials. Simultaneously, he lauds innovative approaches like pyrolysis and locally crafted processes, such as Muritu’s invention, as promising avenues to tackle existing plastic waste challenges.
Addressing Toxic Gas Concerns
Otieno underscores that the majority of toxic gases generated during the pyrolysis process are efficiently redirected back into the system. He distinguishes pyrolysis from incineration, emphasizing that the former occurs within a controlled, enclosed environment. While some toxic gases may be released during pyrolysis, available technologies can capture and purify these emissions effectively.
Awaiting Approval for Commercialization
James Muritu’s revolutionary fuel product is currently pending approval from the Kenya Bureau of Standards and is not yet available for sale. At present, Progreen Innovations achieves a production capacity of 1,000 liters of fuel every two to three days, with an impressive 80% conversion rate of plastic waste into fuel.
This translates to the extraction of 240 liters (50 gallons) of fuel from every 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of plastics processed in the reactor.
