Turning waste into fuel is not a new idea. Man has been harnessing the power of society's cast-offs for as long as can be remembered.
In modern times, though, wealthy and resource-rich states such as Abu Dhabi have not felt much need to capitalise on waste fuel.
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Abu Dhabi produces more than 8 million tonnes of mixed municipal solid waste each year. Although some recyclable materials are removed, most of it ends up in landfills.
In the past, this has been the norm for modern societies. Waste is produced, collected and disposed of almost blindly.
Disposal has generally meant landfill or incineration, neither of which is environmentally friendly. That cannot and will not continue.
As part of Abu Dhabi's plan to get 7 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, researchers at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology are working to find ways to derive more of that energy from waste.
We are looking for better methods to turn waste food oils - from deep fat fryers, for example - into something that can power a car or even a jet aeroplane.
(The Neutral Group in Abu Dhabi has recently signed a deal to turn fat from McDonald's fryers into fuel for lorries.)
It is a potentially rich fuel source - Abu Dhabi produces 80 tonnes of waste food oil each day - but one that is currently largely ignored.
Most large restaurants sell their waste oil to soap makers, but the rest either dump or give away their waste oil. That oil could be used to replace or be mixed with diesel or jet fuel.
The waste would also be enough to power about 2,000 homes. It is too useful a resource to be wasted.
But turning waste food oil into jet fuel is easier said than done. While in theory, converting fryer fat into biodiesel is quite simple, and is already being done on a large scale by many developing countries including China and Brazil, the quality of the fuel is not great.
That is where our research comes in. We are striving to optimise the fuel, looking for a process to improve the fuel's quality and yield while reducing the energy penalty. We are also developing tools to analyse and predict the by-products of waste disposal.
With one of the very few facilities in the UAE that can accurately measure the chemical composition of waste materials, Masdar Institute researchers can explore different reaction pathways and model how different types of waste - municipal solid waste, plastic, industrial waste, paper, refinery waste, biomass and dried algae - will break down under various conditions, be it combustion, gasification or pyrolysis.
That lets us work out not only how to get the most power from the breakdown of the waste but how to do it in a way that minimises hazardous by-products.
Our analysis gives a user - a plastics factory, say, or a refinery - a more complete picture of how it can make the best use of waste fuel.
All of this has helped local companies to make use of waste that previously went into landfill.
In one case, the team shredded a factory's polythene waste and the by-products from its manufacture, and infused them back to the moulding extruder.
It allowed them to use 15 per cent fewer raw materials and although the end product was slightly different in composition, it did the job.
With projects like these and others focused on reducing and redefining waste, Abu Dhabi has a real chance to position itself as a leader in sustainability and clean energy. Its waste may soon be turned into wealth.
Dr Isam Janajreh is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Taika%20Waititi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Hemsworth%2C%20Natalie%20Portman%2C%20Christian%20Bale%2C%20Russell%20Crowe%2C%20Tessa%20Thompson%2C%20Taika%20Waititi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
