Chennai: Guava, a tropical fruit widely grown across India, is finding a new purpose beyond the food industry. Coimbatore-based start-up Buyofuel is looking at guava seeds, often discarded as waste, to produce biodiesel and biomass.
Guava seeds contain 15-20% oil that can be processed into biodiesel. The fibre-rich remainder of the seeds can be utilized as biomass for industrial boilers and heating systems. These properties make guava seeds an efficient and versatile resource for biofuel production.
“Since guava seeds are usually discarded, they provide an opportunity for sustainable repurposing. Buyofuel identified a way to address both agricultural waste management and the rising demand for alternative energy,” Kishan Karunakaran, Founder and CEO of Buyofuel was quoted as saying by The Hindu BusinessLine.
According to the news report, the start-up developed the idea of collecting and converting guava seeds into biofuel, aligning with its vision to turn agricultural by-products into renewable energy solutions. Buyofuel analyzed the calorific value and efficiency of guava seeds as a co-firing agent for energy applications. It also created logistical solutions to handle and transport seeds efficiently, overcoming challenges linked to their collection and storage.
Currently, Buyofuel has 4 to 5 clients actively using or exploring guava seed biofuel. The clients are testing its ability to co-fire fossil fuels across facilities and contribute to renewable energy production, demonstrating its versatility and sustainability, the news report further added.
India leads the world in guava production and contributing 45% of global supply. Guava seeds, a byproduct of this vast production, are often discarded but offer a sustainable alternative as biofuel. By converting these seeds into biomass fuel or biodiesel, industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
