Date pits have been found to contain nearly 12% oil that is suitable for biodiesel production at about 90% efficiency, according to a team from UAE University. When the date-based biodiesel is combusted, methane and hydrogen was produced, which could be captured for further use as energy. The researchers also discovered that the process of converting biomass into fuel can produce more than twice the amount of energy per unit area compared with traditional diesel fuel.
Date pits have been found to contain nearly 12% oil that is suitable for biodiesel production at about 90% efficiency, according to a team from UAE University. When the date-based biodiesel is combusted, methane and hydrogen was produced, which could be captured for further use as energy. About 40 million date palms are planted around the UAE with most pits going to waste, though some are used to produce soaps and cosmetics.