IIT Indore Turns CO₂ and Glycerol Waste into Green Chemicals in Just 7 Minutes

Researchers at IIT Indore, led by Dr Amrendra K Singh with Achena Saha, Shambhu Nath, and Ekta Yadav, have developed a method that converts carbon dioxide and glycerol — a biodiesel byproduct — into valuable green chemicals in about seven minutes, using a ruthenium-based catalyst combined with microwave heating at a mild 50°C. The process, published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Green Chemistry, yields lactic acid (used in biodegradable plastics, cosmetics, and medicines) and formic acid (used for hydrogen storage and clean-energy fuel cells). Conventional methods for this conversion typically need high heat, high pressure, and several hours — this approach cuts that down dramatically, saving time, energy, and cost. Director Prof Suhas Joshi called it work that “solves real problems while building a more sustainable future,” while Dr Singh described it as “a practical, low-energy blueprint for a sustainable circular economy.”

Read more: Press Trust of India (PTI)