After a long seven and a half years, the Indian Patent Office (IPO) finally issued the certificate of grant for the invention ‘Biodiesel production from Rendered Chicken Oil’.
This was the doctoral work of Dr. John Abraham, now Associate Professor at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, who during 2009 to 2012 pioneered the production of biodiesel from broiler slaughter waste and dead poultry birds. He along with his guide Prof Dr. Ramesh Saravanakumar filed a patent for this invention in the year 2014 on behalf of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. Meanwhile he scaled up his innovation by establishing a pilot plant at Pookode and demonstrated the economic production of a renewable bio-fuel from a potential health hazardous waste, which was causing havoc in Kerala.
The economics of this project is that the raw material is a waste, which is collected and cooked at high temperature and pressure from which the oil is extracted. 36 % of the waste is converted to animal and pet feed ingredient which is having 62% protein which costs Rs. 20 per kg. 10% of it is oil. This process at present is being carried out at the multi species abattoir of the Brahmagiri Development Society. 86% of this oil can be converted into biodiesel and 14% of the oil is glycerine, which can be used for making soaps and cosmetics.
The bio-diesel produced here has been tested at the BPCL ‘Kochi refinery, quality control lab and they confirm that it conforms to ‘BIS’ standards. Bio-diesel produced from chicken slaughter waste has a high cetane value of 72 as compared to 64 of petro-diesel, which improves its efficiency in diesel engines. The present production cost of biodiesel comes to Rs.32/- per litre and at present it is used at 50% blending with petro diesel in unmodified diesel engines. This technology is a promising one as it has twin advantage of producing ‘wealth from waste’ at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduces incidence of cancer and improve the health of common people.
In April 2020, the IPO intimated that the claims for this patent was found to be in order, however, since a biological material obtained from India was used in the patent, permission from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) had to be obtained. Dr. Ramesh took all efforts to complete the formalities for the NBA agreement. But unfortunately, without seeing the certificate of grant, Prof Dr. Ramesh Saravanakumar passed away.
On receiving the certificate of grant, Dr. John said he was “happy and sad”. Happy for the long-awaited patent certificate, sad that his dear teacher, guide and mentor was no more to witness it. Dr. John has offered this patent as a tribute to his dear teacher, guide and mentor.
Dr. John was also awarded NITI Aayog’s ‘Atal India Challenge’ for this invention.
For further details, contact Dr. John Abraham at johnabe21@gmail.com
