09-24-2025, 03:04 PM
Turning Pig Manure into Oil?
A scientist, Yuanhui Zhang (Univ. of Illinois), has developed a process called thermochemical conversion that turns pig manure into crude oil.
Each conversion takes ~15 minutes and gives 3x more energy out than in.
1 pig’s lifetime manure = up to 21 gallons of oil.
A farm with 10,000 pigs could produce 210,000 gallons yearly.
The process also cuts odor, reduces pollution, and preserves nutrients.
Unlike older methods, Zhang’s doesn’t need catalysts or drying. With oil prices high, “pig oil” could become a serious renewable alternative.
? Source: National Geographic (2004)
A scientist, Yuanhui Zhang (Univ. of Illinois), has developed a process called thermochemical conversion that turns pig manure into crude oil.
Each conversion takes ~15 minutes and gives 3x more energy out than in.
1 pig’s lifetime manure = up to 21 gallons of oil.
A farm with 10,000 pigs could produce 210,000 gallons yearly.
The process also cuts odor, reduces pollution, and preserves nutrients.
Unlike older methods, Zhang’s doesn’t need catalysts or drying. With oil prices high, “pig oil” could become a serious renewable alternative.
? Source: National Geographic (2004)