by MARY M. COX
Manufacturer List
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Nationally, almost all organic waste goes into landfills or incinerators. Instead, that material can be used to create energy via anaerobic digestion (AD). The northeast and west coast are leading the way in utilizing AD technology – the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials, in the absence of oxygen (air) typically in a closed vessel, generating biogas, which can be then used as energy.
Biogas is mostly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), with very small amounts of other gases and water vapor. The CO2 and other gases can be removed, leaving only methane, the primary component of natural gas. Digestate is the material left after anaerobic digestion happens, it can usually be separated into a solid and a liquid and also used as crop fertilizer. According to the EPA, AD systems are basically alike, whether the material involved is food waste, wastewater sludge or animal manure. The three main types of digesters are stand alone, on-farm, and those used at wastewater treatment plants. This green technology presents a win-win situation on an industrial scale. Evidence indicates that basic AD methods were used in ancient times, and the first commercial digester was established in 1950 in Germany. Countless varieties of digesters are now in use, globally. Companies such as TeamBiogas assist clients in understanding their options to better adapt, migrate and leverage their efforts so they can participate in the expanding AD marketplace.
Biogas Energy offers turnkey anaerobic digestion systems including waste processing, feedstock decontamination, anaerobic digestion, power generation and CNG fuel production. “Our complete mix mesophilic technology is deployed in hundreds of biogas plants in Europe for food waste digestion. We’ve also built a 100 ton per day food waste digester that is located in Chico, California but the technology we offer can be scaled up or down as required, by our clients. The key for recyclers is to retain flexibility in managing changing feedstock. Biogas Energy digesters can be fed with liquids (whey, wastewater, septic, glycerin, etc.) or high solids material (grass clippings, plant material, food waste). From waste reception through post-digestion processing and energy generation, our experts have the solution you need,” stated Brian Gannon, president.
He noted that some anaerobic digestion facilities face unique challenges in working with organics recyclers: 1) Varied feed stocks, whether high-solids yard waste or low solids liquid food waste; 2) A robust operation is required to maintain uptime and throughput capacity. 3) Energy generation efficiency and low opex; and 4) The capability for contamination removal and pre-processing of feed stocks.
The use of anaerobic digestion is growing among companies that generate food waste, as it adds energy production to materials disposal. The challenging aspect in this process, however, can be the way in which mandated landfill diversion of organics can create waste streams that may be contaminated and heterogeneous. “Our systems however, enable wide feedstock variability, remove contaminants and enable full anaerobic digestion of material for energy production,” Gannon explained.
EcoloCap Solutions’ Bio-ART (Biological Aerobic Remediation Technology) is an aerobic, vertical in-vessel bioreactor technology “that requires a minimal capital investment and low cost of operation,” Joseph Mure, marketing and public relations director, remarked. The technology remediates most any type of organic waste including but not limited to, yard waste, manures, segregated organic municipal solid waste (MSW), mixed organic MSW with plastic bags and small non-organics, human bio solids, petro sludge as well as other hazardous organic waste. Each Bio-ART module inputs 15 tons per day, 525 ft2 per module, with a processing time of 7 days. Processing bio solids requires 14 days to meet EPA regulations. The daily output is a compost/soil amendment or biomass (18 to 20 million btu per ton) is approximately equal to 1/3 the input by weight, containing a 15 to 25 percent moisture content and virtually no odor.
Government mandates are restricting organics from landfills in an effort to achieve zero waste goals. Mure noted that Bio-ART systems offer favorable logistics designed to accept virtually all organic materials, including meats, FOG (fat, oil, grease), produce, and dairy. Plastic bags and larger plastic pieces are automatically separated via pre-processing equipment and prior to entering the vessel. It is acceptable for napkins, paper towels, and compostable plates, bowls, cutlery, and paper cups to remain in the digesting process. Smaller non-organics are separated during post processing.
The first installation established by U.S. Bio-ART is located in Chicago at the Lakeshore Recycling Systems transfer station, processing 15 tons per day, with the capacity to expand to 120 tons per day. The energy efficient Bio-ART composting technology is UL Approved, Chicago EPA, Illinois EPA, Federal EPA and OSHA-compliant. EcoloCap’s manufacturing plant, located in South Korea, remediates over 10,000 MT per day of mixed organics, using the Bio-ART technology. “As demonstrated by the LRS installation, the clean, odor free, Bio-ART system can collocate at existing MRFs and transfer stations.
Colocation of Bio-ART saves money for operators, in hauling and tipping fees, as well as revenue derived from compost/fertilizer sales. System installation takes approximately three to six months from order to commissioning,” said Mure.
Impact Bioenergy manufactures and sells portable, prefabricated bioenergy systems that convert organic waste materials into renewable and storable energy and fertilizer with zero waste. Jan Allen, president, explained how “Our systems truly deliver a zero waste solution to a universal problem. Rarely does an opportunity come along that can touch on energy, water, air, soil, food, jobs and education simultaneously. Our system does. Generating chemical free plant food is a bonus to generating renewable energy. Also, trucking and exporting waste, traffic congestion and emissions can all be substantially reduced by digester use.”
Allen has witnessed over 10 million tons of waste become something new and valuable, and started his company in 2013 because no one in North America offered microdigesters. Inside, microbes convert decomposing food into natural gas and liquid fertilizer. “Think of this as a mechanical cow or horse. Our “HORSE” (high-solids organic waste recycling system with electrical output) eats, burps out gas, and makes manure but is innovative because we’ve miniaturized the process involved, made it affordable and added odor control. Our smallest HORSE feeds on 960 lbs. per week and takes about 2 hours a week to feed and manage. With our product, designed for easy use and with few moving parts, food waste flows by gravity through the digester, which is perfect for small campuses, craft brewers/distillers, and restaurants. Our larger Nautilus product can process 35,000 lbs. per week and is a good fit for use on an island,” said Allen.
He added, “Although commonly used at wastewater plants and dairy farms, our biggest challenge is convincing other entities to utilize this technology. The University of California, San Diego will soon install a digester and hopefully, more colleges and businesses that want to go green will follow their lead. We receive daily inquiries from islands, campuses, beverage and food manufacturers, food service and catering operations. We inspire people to find a better way to move carbon-rich resources back to the soil. The New York Times and National Public Radio both recently featured soil regeneration as a cutting edge issue. There is good reason for that, given the loss and damage done just from factors such as the burning of diesel fuel. It is the largest source of GHG from vehicles – 25 billion gallons of fuel burned last year in the U.S. resulted in 10 kg GHG emissions per gallon. Resulting traffic congestion wasted money, time, and fuel, which translated to $305 billion in lost U.S. productivity last year and valuable carbon-rich resources were buried in landfills. In 2017, $218 billion in food was wasted domestically, and another $15 billion was spent, landfilling it.”
Published in the August 2018 Edition
