IIT Indore Develops 7 Minute Technology to Turn CO2 and Biodiesel Waste Into Green Chemicals

Researchers at IIT Indore have developed a new technology that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and glycerol, a waste product from biodiesel production, into valuable green chemicals in just seven minutes. The breakthrough uses low heat and less energy, making the process faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than existing methods. The findings have been published in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Green Chemistry.

The research was led by Dr Amrendra K Singh, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, along with Achena Saha, Shambhu Nath and Ekta Yadav.

Instead of treating CO2 and glycerol as waste, the team combined them through a chemical process called transfer hydrogenation. They used a specially designed ruthenium based catalyst along with microwave heating to speed up the reaction.

According to IIT Indore, most existing methods need very high temperatures, high pressure and several hours to complete. The new process works at just 50 degrees Celsius and finishes in about seven minutes, cutting energy use, processing time and overall cost.

The process produces lactic acid and formic acid. Lactic acid is widely used to make biodegradable plastics and is also used in medicines and cosmetics. Formic acid can store hydrogen safely and supports clean energy fuel cells, making it useful for greener transport and energy systems.

IIT Indore Director Prof Suhas Joshi said the research shows how science can solve real world problems while supporting cleaner manufacturing. Dr Singh said the technology offers a practical path towards a circular economy by turning industrial waste into materials needed for biodegradable plastics and clean energy. The institute believes the innovation could support future industrial efforts to reduce carbon emissions while creating useful products from waste.