By Hazimin Sulaiman

With all the furore over rising fuel prices and goods, it's only pertinent that we look into other means which are also greener- friendlier to the environment. BioMac Corporation Sdn Bhd (BioMac), based in Technology Park Malaysia has started on this journey in 2002 with inspiration towards a “Green Business”.

At the helm of BioMac is chief executive officer, Syed Isa Syed Alwi, who embarked on the “Green Business” philosophy to look into various biotechnology and biodiesel projects in the region and the latest technology for more environmental friendly forms of alternative renewable energy. The journey has led Syed Isa to extensive research and collaborations with strategic partners from institutions and organisations such as University Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Surfant and Bioenergy Research Centre Surfant and Bio-energy Research Centre, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Indonesia and Ingrepro BV, Netherlands, a biotech company specialised in industrial large scale algae production in Europe.

With these smart partnerships, BioMac has been successful in making biodiesel from processing plants and reactors using crude palmoil, the Jatropha Curcas Lynn plant and Algae. BioMac has even made it possible for individuals to buy equipment and produce biodiesel on a smaller scale. The process involves a simple process, often compared to brewing beer.

Just how is biodiesel produced? Biodiesel is basically the same as normal diesel oil. The difference is that it is derived from vegetable oils or animal fat. Generally, vegetable oils are used such as sunflower oil, soy oil, rape oil or palm oil. Used oils may also be used. To produce biodiesel, these oils are subjected to a chemical reaction called transesterification. This reaction makes the glycerol present in the oil to be substituted by methanol, using lye as a catalyst. The result is a methyl ester. Residue formed by this process, called glycerine can be used for making soaps.

BioMac is aggressively looking into another likely source: algae. Algae, are eukaryotic cells (cells with nuclei and organelles) which have plastids, which combines with chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis. Various lines of algae have different combinations of chlorophyll molecules (Chlorophyll A, A and B, A and C) and varying proportions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and nucleic acids. There are algae types that have up to 40% of their overall mass consisting of fatty acids. It is this fatty acid or oil that can be extracted and converted into biodiesel.

According to BioMac, biodiesel has certain plus-points: it is biodegradable, it decreases sootemission up to 50 %, it decreases emission of hydrocarbons and it is CO 2 neutral. It is also mixable with fossil diesel. In European countries (Austria, Italy, Spain, France and Germany) biodiesel is seriously used. Over 150,000 cars run on biodiesel in Germany and there are over 1,200 fuel stations with a biodiesel. The secret for success is that no excise is levied on biodiesel, which makes its price an average of 4 to 8 cents below normal diesel.

BioMac aspires to be a leading biofuel player and brand producer for bio-fuel machineries and equipment in the region. With all that it has achieved so far, this is not an unlikely event. Already BioMac has gained recognition for its role through events such as Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2006 (MAHA 2006), the region’s largest exhibition showcasing the latest Technologies and Innovations in the Agriculture, Agro-Based, Horticulture and Agrotourism industry and its corporate sponsorship of the The International Biofuel and Alternative Energy Conference 2006.

BioMac's intentions are to create an awareness as Syed Isa puts it: “BioMac is working hard to generate interest in the sustainable supply of fossil fuels to supply the increasing thirst of the global economies for energy.”

www.biomac.com.my