Fossil fuel combustion remains the single most significant contributor to the increasing greenhouse effect and climate change, and decoupling of economic growth from emissions is now a top priority worldwide. India is committed to mitigating the disastrous consequences of climate change, and considerable research and developmental efforts are underway to find innovative and intuitive interventions to address its effects. Dr. Bhaskar Singh and Dr. Dipesh Kumar from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Central University of Jharkhand have devised an ingenious method of improving biodiesel properties and commercial appeal. Biodiesel is an up-and-coming alternative to mineral diesel derived from renewable biomass (oleaginous matter) and is usually considered a carbon-neutral fuel. Despite its appeal, mass-scale commercialization of biodiesel is hampered due to its inferior stability (chemical degradation under prolonged storage) and poor low-temperature operability (solidification tendency at lower temperatures).

The Patent Office, Govt. of India, granted the patent for the invention to Dr. Singh and Dr. Kumar on 22nd February 2024. The patent is titled ‘Method for the enhancement of oxidative stability and cold-flow properties of biodiesel’. The inventive method is not only economical but is also environmentally more desirable. The method significantly boosts the stability of the fuel and its performance at lower temperatures. It can also aid the utilization of higher blends of biodiesel in diesel, which is currently restricted to a maximum of 7%, thereby allowing a greater percentage of clean fuel in transport vehicles. Biodiesel can be used in all types of existing diesel engines. It will be particularly important for long-haul heavy-duty vehicles, for which there are limited options in the battery-powered vehicle segment. 

Dr. Bhaskar Singh is currently working as a faculty in the Department of Environmental Sciences and is involved in developing environment friendly products and processes. Dr. Bhaskar has featured thrice in the Stanford’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists published by Elsevier. The patent is an outcome of persistent R&D efforts by him and scholars working under his supervision at the University. Working under the supervision of Dr. Bhaskar Singh, Dr. Dipesh Kumar earned his doctorate on the subject in 2019. The university administration congratulates the researchers for their achievement