It is possible to extract biofuel oil from the nuclei of date palms, according to a scientific research study conducted in Bahrain.

Ten per cent is then turned into diesel after chemical processing and also the possibility to extract glycerin for use as a cosmetic product, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

Chemistry associate professor Dr Ahmed Abdurrahman Taha said that he had conducted a series of experiments to recycle farm waste and transform it into useful substances, asserting that he has already succeeded in extracting oil from the nucleus of date palms and then transformed it after chemical processing into biodiesel.

Dr Taha pointed out that it is possible for the cosmetics industry to benefit from the study from the byproducts of the chemical process conducted to produce biodiesel in order to form natural glycerin for use in the industry.

He added that the solid substances which remain from the transformation process can be useful as animal fodder as it contains a considerable quantity of protein and fibre.

Dr Taha explained that the number of productive palm trees in Bahrain is approximately 380,000.

The ratio of oil extractable from kernels is an estimated 8 per cent with production reaching 156.7 tonnes approximately. The research was conducted as part of the University of Bahrain's projects showcased at the Bahrain International Garden Show 2013. – TradeArabia News Service