Home ›› 30 Nov 2022 ›› Nation
In a brilliant innovation to address the environment pollution, Yusuf Mia, 35, from Khulna hassuccessfully produced oil and gas by burning polythene waste.
Plastic that takes up to 400-500 years to decompose completelyis one of the main reasons behind climate change which is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and is affecting the lives of billions of people around the world.
Contemplating how to face the problem of environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, Yusuf, hailed from Dewra village in Koyra upazila in Khulna, finally came up with an innovative solution.
As a way to recycle used polythene, he has successfully produced oil and gas burning the waste.Burning one maund of polythene, he produced 20 kg diesel, 5.5 kg petrol, 2.5 litre octane and gas.
Yusuf’s unique invention has created sensation in the locality, drawing huge crowd at his house every day. He is also researching to use polythene ash as ink for grease and photocopy machines.
Around 1,700 tonnes of plastic waste is produced in the country every day and only half of it is recycled, according to the Department of Environment.
The country produces around 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic waste annually and 86 per cent of the waste is dumped in landfills, according to the Environment and Social Development Organisation.
Visiting his house recently, this correspondent that polythene were being burnt inside a large drum which is connected with another water-filled small drum through a pipe.
Vapour produced by burning the waste enters into the small drum from the large drum through the pipe for cooling. After being cooled by water it turns into liquid which comes out from the small drum through a refining machine and collected in three separate pots of octane, patrol and diesel. The rest of the vapour returns to the large drum through another pipeline to be used as additional fuel use to burn polythene. Yusuf uses woods for burning the polythene in the large drum at the beginning of the process, but after a while the produced gasis used to burn the waste.
Yusuf said he came to know about making fuel by burning polythene 8/7 months back watching aYoutube video. He saw several Chinese videos about making the refining machine.
He started experimental production after making a machine at home in October. He used the produced oil in his motor-cycle and shallow machine for the first time which was a success.
Later, he then made another machine capable of producing 14/15 litres oil spending Tk2 lakh.
“I produce fuel two times weekly and sell it or use it to operate my small engine used to run pumps for irrigation,” he said.
“It is environment-friendly as no vapour leaks into the air while burning polythene. Rather the refining machine is preventing environmental pollution by recycling polythene wasteand also contributing to reduce the ongoing fuel crisis,” he added.
“I can produce diesel, petrol and octane through the refining machine. But I have not been able to make any arrangement to store the produced fuel,” Yusuf said, adding, “I am planning to make ink for photocopy machine and grease machine.”
Azizul Gazi, a local of Shimlait village said “I could not believe after hearing about Yusuf’s machine, so came to see it myself. I’m really astounded by such invention of an uneducated youth of a remote village.”
Other locals Amirul Islam, Rakib, Selim said that the initiative is surely admirable amid current situation of the country. Yousuf’s machine is meeting the fuel demand in some extend and also producing employment,
they said.
Yusuf failed to get education due to poverty but made different equipment with self-inspiration since his childhood, Local Awami League leader Amirul Islam Fakir said. “He made Chinese machine at home only watching it on Youtube which is a matter of honour for us”, he said.
UP member Abdul Mannan said Yusuf’s technological talent is splendid. He will be able to make something more worthy if he gets proper financial support and contribute to meet the fuel demand of the country in large scale and reduce unemployment.
Prof Dr Abdullah Yusuf Al Harun of Khulna University told The Business Post that Yusuf’s machine won’t create any environmental hazard as the entire vapour from polythene burning is being recycled which is a positive initiative.
“Besides, it also saves nature from polythenewaste and thus prevents environmental pollution, but he has to remain alert so that vapour never leaks into the air,” he added.
Khulna Divisional Director of Environment Department, Md Iqbal Hossain said that he has no information regarding the matter.
