Porcine petroleum
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Porcine petroleum (also known as pig crude) is a synthetic crude oil chemically engineered (converted) from pig manure (hog waste). Potentially it could be used as diesel fuel.
A team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign including Professor Yuanhui Zhang, a bio-environmental engineer, has developed a method for converting raw pig manure into a form of crude oil through thermal depolymerization (thermochemical conversion). This process uses a thermochemical conversion reactor to apply heat and pressure for breaking down carbohydrate materials.[1][2] As a result, crude oil, methane and carbon dioxide are produced.[3]
With further research, large-scale chemical processing in a refinery-style environment could help the United States process millions of gallons of "pig crude" per day, making the nation much less dependent on foreign sources of oil. However, this technology is still in its infancy and could produce only Template:Convert/USoz of oil per Template:Convert/USgal of manure.[1] In 2006, preparations for a construction of a pilot plant started.[4] No research has been conducted to determine how current commercial vehicles could operate on this type of fuel.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stefan Lovgren (2004-07-02). "Pig Manure Converted to Crude Oil". National Geographic News. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0701_040702_pigoil.html. Retrieved on 2009-08-28.
- ↑ Dave Orrick (2006-04-28). "When pigs fly? Researcher makes oil from manure". Associated Press. http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_5074fc61-a50b-5356-8a24-bc593d295399.html. Retrieved on 2009-08-28.
- ↑ Felipe Galindo (2004-04-20). "How a Pig's Waste Became Oil". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/20/science/observatory-how-a-pig-s-waste-became-oil.html. Retrieved on 2009-08-28.
- ↑ "Manure to oil: Illinois team lays groundwork for pilot plant". Feedstuffs. 2006-04-03. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15008269_ITM. Retrieved on 2009-08-28.