A group of young innovators is shaking up the fuel industry by turning plastic waste into gasoline and other fuels. From Colombia, a group of brave entrepreneurs has been fine-tuning a solution to recycle waste materials like plastic and turn them into usable fuels for vehicles and agricultural machinery. Their journey began with humble beginnings—at first, the machines used in the process of Pyrolysis (the process that transforms plastic into fuel) seemed like simple prototypes for experimentation. But today, they have developed a system worthy of any growing industry. The company, BIOSYNGAS, is based in Barrancabermeja, Santander, Colombia, and is led by four friends who decided to bet on a business model that seeks to revolutionize the alternative fuel sector.
So, how does this process of turning plastic into fuel work? Well, it’s called Pyrolysis, and in simple terms, it involves using heat and the absence of oxygen to break down plastic and turn it into oil, which is then distilled to produce fuel and other byproducts.
The first step in this incredible transformation is to shred the plastic waste that arrives at the plant. Initially, workers used to manually cut the plastic with scissors, but now they have a shredder that breaks the material down into smaller pieces, making it easier to compact it into the machine where the chemical process will take place.
The second step is to fill the reactor with the shredded plastic. Inside the tank, the plastic undergoes a reverse process, where heat and the lack of oxygen transform it into a liquid. As this liquid passes through cooling tubes, it begins to condense. Then, it enters a distillation process to be refined into fuel suitable for engines. While it may sound simple, it’s actually a complex chemical process that’s carefully monitored and perfected to ensure the final product can be used in cars, motorcycles, and agricultural machinery.
The journey hasn’t been easy. These courageous entrepreneurs started out with a process that could only produce 10 liters per day, but now, thanks to their innovative reactor, they can produce over 180 liters daily. It’s important to highlight that while they didn’t invent the distillation process, they did design the reactor, and they’re the only ones currently operating this model in the country.
This story is simply fascinating, and we’ve got the full video for you to check out, where you’ll meet the team behind this incredible idea and learn about their journey so far.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this story. Would you be interested in investing in such a revolutionary business idea?
Report by journalist Janet Camacho / Colombia