BITS Pilani, an Institution of Eminence, has announced a major scientific breakthrough at a time when global tensions are disrupting LPG supply and raising concerns about India’s fuel security. Researchers at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus have developed a new method that can turn the smoke‑like gases coming out of power plants into Dimethyl Ether (DME), a clean fuel that could one day replace or supplement LPG in Indian homes.
The project is led by Prof. Sounak Roy, Dean of Research and Innovation, along with Satyapaul A. Singh and retired professor B.M. Reddy. Their work shows how gases that are normally released into the air from large industries can be captured and converted into a usable, cleaner fuel. Instead of letting this gas go to waste, the team used special materials and hydrogen (made by separating water into oxygen and hydrogen) to turn it into DME in a single step.
To make sure the process would work outside the lab, the researchers created conditions similar to those inside a real power plant. They used a specialised high‑pressure reactor that allowed the gas to move through quickly, just like in an actual industrial chimney. By carefully adjusting heat, pressure, and the mix of gases, they were able to produce DME in large amounts, showing that the method can be scaled up in the future.
DME is already known worldwide as a cleaner fuel option. It burns without producing soot, reduces harmful emissions, and performs very similarly to LPG in cooking stoves. In fact, India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already allowed up to 20% DME to be mixed with LPG, clearing the path for it to enter Indian kitchens over time.
What makes the BITS Pilani breakthrough especially important is that the process not only creates a clean fuel but also reduces carbon emissions by putting industrial waste gases to productive use. This “two‑in‑one” benefit, cutting pollution while producing fuel, could play a major role in India’s clean‑energy transition.
Prof. Sounak Roy, Dean of Research and Innovation at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, said:
“This breakthrough shows that India can strengthen both its energy security and its commitment to the environment at the same time. Instead of treating power, steel or cementplant emissions as waste, we are turning them into a valuable fuel that can reduce our dependence on imported LPG. This is the kind of circular, sustainable innovation that can help power India’s future.”
