14/09/2026 (GAPKI), Yogyakarta - The Indonesian Nuclear Technology Polytechnic (Poltek Nuklir) under the National Research and Innovation Board (BRIN) has successfully developed an application for Cobalt-60 (Co-60) gamma irradiation technology for enhancing biodiesel production from used cooking oil (UCO). The technological development aims to address the need for renewable energy that is not only environmentally friendly but also capable of transforming waste into a value-added energy source.

The Poltek Nuklir lecturer Dhita Ariyanti stated that the development of alternative energy is increasingly necessary, driven by rising energy consumption and dwindling fossil fuel reserves. In Indonesia, the ever-growing energy demand and reliance on fossil fuels pose challenges to efforts of curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Against this backdrop, Dhita identified an opportunity to utilize used cooking oil as a renewable energy feedstock. Used cooking oil typically a household waste with the potential to pollute the environment can be processed into biodiesel, thereby gaining added value.

“Biodiesel offers several advantages over fossil fuels, including lower emissions and biodegradability. Furthermore, biodiesel can help mitigate the rise of atmospheric CO₂ levels,” she told the BRIN Public Relations team on Tuesday (18/08/2026).

In this study, used cooking oil was selected as the feedstock due to its abundance and its tendency to become environmental waste. Additionally, the repeated use of cooking oil is known to pose health risks. Utilizing it as a raw material for biodiesel offers a dual benefit: reducing waste while simultaneously producing renewable energy.

“Repeated use of cooking oil poses significant health risks. To address this issue, waste cooking oil can be repurposed as a feedstock for biodiesel production,” Dhita explained.

Unlike conventional process of biodiesel production, this study utilizes gamma rays from a Cobalt-60 radioisotope source. The irradiation generates free radicals that enhance molecular reactivity, allowing the biodiesel formation process to proceed more rapidly and efficiently without the need for additional chemicals.

“The research results show a consistent trend of increasing biodiesel volume as the irradiation dose rises. Starting with 150 mL of feedstock, the study recorded a peak biodiesel yield of 104.7 mL at an irradiation dose of 35 kGy,” she stated.

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of ester functional groups, a key indicator of biodiesel. Changes in the FTIR spectrum were more pronounced at irradiation doses of 20 kGy and 35 kGy. Peaks corresponding to functional groups such as C-O, C=O, C-H, and O-H exhibited significant changes in intensity and slight shifts in position. According to Dhita, these findings demonstrate that gamma irradiation can boost biodiesel production without the need for additional chemical modifications.

Despite these positive results, the researchers emphasize the need for scientific caution, noting that this study remains preliminary. As an initial study, the claim that irradiation accelerates transesterification requires support from quantitative conversion data, such as that obtained through GC or ¹H-NMR analysis.

“In future studies, the irradiation dose needs to be increased beyond 35 kGy. This is necessary to determine the threshold at which the benefits of irradiation are no longer optimal, without compromising biodiesel quality. Further research is also expected to provide a deeper understanding of the overall process,” said Dhita.

This innovation opens up new opportunities for utilizing nuclear technology to support the clean energy transition in Indonesia. Beyond offering a more sustainable solution for managing used cooking oil waste, gamma irradiation technology has the potential to enhance the efficiency of biodiesel production, thereby serving as a future alternative for eco-friendly fuel supply.

The research was published in the international journal of “Formation of Alkyl-Ester as Effect of Irradiation 60Co Gamma from Oil Waste: Preliminary Study as Candidate of Biodiesel”, appearing in the “U.P.B. Scientific Bulletin, Series B”, Volume 87, Issue 4 (2025).

The study is the result of an international collaboration between BRIN’s Nuclear Polytechnic and the Uzatom Atomic Energy Agency in Uzbekistan and the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria. It was also supported by researchers from BRIN’s Directorate of Laboratory, Research Facility, and Science and Technology (DPLFRKST). (*)

https://gapki.id/en/news/2026/09/13/brin-develops-new-technology-to-process-uco-into-biodiesel/