Green bus that is powered by date seeds
It’s the first bus in the Arab world to run on date-seed biodiesel, showcasing a locally sourced solution in a petroleum-rich nation planning for a post-oil future
INNOVATION
The "Green Bus" in Oman is a pioneering sustainable transport initiative that runs on biodiesel derived from date seeds (or date kernels), developed by researchers at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Muscat.
The project was led by Dr. Lamya Al Haj, an associate professor of molecular biology at SQU, alongside a team including Dr. Ala’a H. Al Muhtasib (chemical engineering) and other students.
What is the Process?
The team extracts oil from date seeds (9-15% oil content) using a chemical process called transesterification, combining it with a recyclable catalyst to produce biodiesel. This fuel is mixed with conventional diesel to power the bus, reducing production costs and environmental impact.
The biodiesel cuts carbon emissions compared to regular diesel, though exact reductions depend on the blend ratio (not fully specified in public data). It also reduces waste by valorizing date seeds, which farmers often discard.
