Scientists turn orange peel into biofuel

Scientists have identified a way of turning orange peel into biofuel.

Professor James Clark at the University of York has identified high-powered microwaves that can break down the molecules in fruit peel in order to release gases.

These could then be collected and distilled to produce a liquid which can be used for many things, including biofuel.

He said that the new technology could be worth billions as there is a huge amount of waste orange peel available which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Waste orange peel is an excellent example of a wasted resource. In Brazil, the world's largest producer of orange juice, half the orange fruit is left as waste once the juice has been recovered," Professor Clark explained at the British Science Festival.

He said that this waste equates to eight million tonnes a year of waste orange peel that can be used to produce chemicals, fuels and materials.