A local engineer, James Muritu, has innovated ways of recycling plastic waste into petrol and diesel fuels.
In a media interview, Muritu said the Progreen Innovations, based in Murang’a county, is aimed at conserving the environment and providing an alternative to the fuel crisis in Kenya.
“This is an idea I have been running with for the last two years, lot of research into it and in the last one year we have been doing some pilot tests and we have seen some satisfactory results.
We turn waste plastic into usable fuel, our passion is to clean the environment and recover value from the waste plastic,” he told Citizen TV.
Prior to the commencement of his idea, Muritu came across the pyrolysis process which is basically heating materials in the absence of oxygen.
He then approached a mechanical engineer online to design the pyrolysis machine.
“It is actually a particular type of plastic and that’s where our research has evolved. This is all fabricated right here, nothing imported, it is all made in Kenya,” he said.
Also, Muritu said the process involves a lot of chemistry.
Michael Nthenge, Mechinal Engineer Progreen Innovations said they source the plastic waste from local dealers.
“My work is to fabricate and produce these pyrolysis machines for producing oil and recycling waste,” said.
Further, the petrol from the plastics can be used to power small engines like generators and water pumps.
However, diesel fuel can be used in bigger engines.
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Muritu Fuel Making Process
Muritu explained that the first step is collection of the plastics waste.
Once the waste is sorted, it is shredded and loaded into a material reactor which should be closed tightly.
Additionally, he emphasized that there should be no oxygen in the material reactor box.
The box is then heated using brickettes through a furnace with the guidance of a temperature control system.
“There will be two production cycles, the first cycle is to produce crude oil while the second cycle is to refine that crude oil,” said Muritu.
“We play around with temperatures so that we can decide whether we want to produce petrol or diesel,” he said.
Further, Muritu has employed seven people to help in the production process.
Licence & Users
The National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) has issued Muritu with an operation license.
Despite not going fully commercial, several people are already using his fuel to power their machines.
“In the pilot stage and we have involved a few willing users. It was not easy because you are telling somebody I have fuel here that you can test.
But we were able to get a few people who are constantly using it and they have really helped us to refine the product,” he explained.
Tony Karur, a farmer in Thika revealed that the fuel has had no negative impact on his machines for the last one month of usage.
“A liter of the alternative fuel lasts longer than that from the gas station, so it is what I am going to continue using,” aid Karur.
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Challenges
Muritu’s aim is to see the fuel in the market as soon as possible.
Also, he revealed plans to set up a similar venture across five sites in Kenya.
However, he cited financial constraints as one of the problems derailing this process.
“No funding from somewhere, these are all my savings. Our vision is in any town in Kenya we can collect the waste and turn it into value within that town,” he said.
Also, engineer Michael emphasized that Kenya could produce local items without relying on the developed nations like China.
