Location: UW Seattle Campus
Leads: Roshan Paul and Evelyn Maher
Timeline: March 2026 to Present
Produce biodiesel from used cooking oil to make the UW facilities more sustainable and reduce methane release from waste cooking oil in landfills.
Raise awareness on the accessibility and impact of biodiesel and environmental cost of waste cooking oil. Produce soap as a coproduct of this process to further support awareness.
Progress Summary
WI 26: Start of project. Researched biogas and biodiesel. Considered feasibility of previous “Biogas food truck” project. Finalized biodiesel from waste cooking oil as project.
SP 26: Research on small-scale, single batch of biodiesel to test logistical plan and soap making process. Finding biodiesel reactors and distributors to get cost estimate.
Current and Future Objectives
- Make small-scale batch and finalize soap production plan.
- Get approximate cost estimate for first stage of project. Define other necessary requirements like size of space with reactor, utility access, etc.
- Apply for grants.
- Finalize location for bioreactor.
- Finalize all equipment to be purchased.
- Draft staffing + logistics plan.
- Get the biodiesel reactor and run test batches.
- Start operation.
