Rocket Fuel Produced from Apricots

Rocket Fuel Produced from Apricots A new chapter has been added to apricot-related research in Malatya, the capital of apricot production. Scientists at İnönü Üniversitesi have successfully produced rocket fuel from apricots. Once the project is implemented, USD 200 worth of rocket fuel will be produced from TRY 1 worth of apricot waste. Apricots, which contribute significantly to the city's economy, have recently become an important raw material in the industrial sector. Scientists from Malatya have succeeded in producing rocket fuel with apricot as its raw material by examining the composition of the fruit. The project involved Murat Toptaş, Research Assistant at the Engineering Faculty of Malatya İnönü Üniversitesi, Yeliz Akbulut, Senior Chemical Engineer from the Chemical Engineering Department, and Tamer Bakır, Technician. Senior Chemical Engineer Yeliz Akbulut, noting that apricots are Malatya's largest source of economic income, stated that they began with the idea of converting apricots into a high-value-added product. Recalling that apricot production reaches 790,000 tonnes, Akbulut said: "A material produced in such quantities generates significant waste. To evaluate this waste, we examined its composition and found it contains high levels of sugar and similar materials. We assessed its relationship to rocket fuels. We used a strong oxidizer. We have valorized a waste product." Research Assistant Murat Toptaş, emphasizing that they succeeded in obtaining rocket fuel worth USD 200 per kilogram from idle apricots, stated: "We added certain accelerant materials to it. As a result, we succeeded in producing rocket fuel worth USD 200 per kilogram from apricot waste worth a few lira per kilogram. We compressed the rocket fuel we obtained to transform it into a rocket motor. In the next phase, we are thinking of designing a nozzle suited to this rocket motor and completing the motor design. The fuel will be commercialized within 6 months." Given that rocket motors and fuels used in many fields are currently imported, the research is expected to create significant added value and generate economic benefits. Source