Waste-based feedstock
Pepper seeds recovered from agricultural waste streams, requiring no additional land or food resources.
PEPPER SEED BIODIESEL
From agricultural waste to applied clean energy
Our project investigates biodiesel production using pepper seed waste and validates its feasibility through a working miniature production prototype. Pepper seeds contain 25–28% oil by mass, making them a viable waste-based feedstock. By combining simulation, experimentation, and prototype testing, we demonstrate how agricultural residues can be converted into usable biodiesel while reducing fuel costs, chemical losses, and environmental impact.
Prototype-scale validation
Biodiesel production tested at small scale with 88–94% oil-to-biodiesel conversion efficiency.
Project media album
Explore visual notes and photos from the simulation build, lab trials, and cooperative outreach.
Our Innovation
This project integrates a biodiesel simulation with a functional prototype to connect theory with practice. While the simulation models oil yield, conversion efficiency, and fuel output, the prototype validates these assumptions experimentally.
By focusing on pepper seed waste, the project introduces a low-cost, waste-based biodiesel pathway suitable for small-scale and decentralized applications.
Core Features
Agricultural Waste Utilization
Pepper seed residues—typically discarded—are used as a biodiesel feedstock. With an oil yield of 0.25–0.28 L per kg of seeds, this waste stream becomes a measurable energy resource.
Realistic Biodiesel Modeling
The simulation incorporates experimental and literature-based values, including oil extraction efficiency and 88–94% transesterification yield, ensuring realistic projections of biodiesel output.
Farmer-Oriented Design
Inputs are structured around real agricultural data such as seed availability and seasonal production, making the system relevant for cooperatives and local producers.
Intended Impact
The project aims to show that biodiesel from pepper seed waste is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically meaningful at small scales.
🌱 Environmental
Waste-based biodiesel reduces reliance on fossil diesel and lowers lifecycle emissions by repurposing agricultural residues.
💰 Economic
With pepper seeds assumed at 0 TL feedstock cost, production cost is driven mainly by methanol and processing—resulting in lower TL/L fuel cost compared to market diesel.
🤝 Social
Partnerships with local farmers enable waste collection, shared benefits, and increased awareness of circular energy systems.
How we built the project
Feedstock analysis & research
We evaluated multiple biodiesel feedstocks and selected pepper seeds based on availability, oil content (25–28%), and sustainability.
Simulation & cost modeling
We modeled biodiesel yield, fuel efficiency, methanol consumption, and production cost per liter using real conversion data and experimental ranges.
Prototype design & validation
We designed and tested a miniature biodiesel production system to verify conversion efficiency, material losses, and feasibility under real conditions.
Sponsors
The contributions of our sponsors enabled the BioSpice Project to evolve from initial modeling into a validated, working prototype.
Stories from the field
1. Farmer partnerships
Local pepper producers provided real waste data, ensuring the simulation reflects realistic seed quantities and seasonal variability.
2. Measured efficiency gains
Prototype testing demonstrated that optimized reaction parameters can reduce methanol excess while maintaining high biodiesel yield.
3. Data-backed outreach
Quantified results—oil yield, conversion efficiency, and cost per liter—strengthen discussions with sponsors, educators, and sustainability programs.
Explore the Potential of Biodiesel
Enter your available pepper seed amount and discover how much fuel, distance, and savings are possible.
Start Simulation