Utilization and recycle of agricultural wastes and residues
- ed.
A critical examination of proposed schemes for treating agricultural wastes and residues as sources of both food and energy (biogas, for instance) explores three questions as they relate to the various groups of biological and thermochemical conversion processes: What is the state of the art, what are the critical R and D needs, and which methods have the most commercial potential. The problem of cellulose degradation represents a link common to all types of agricultural waste- and residue-conversion schemes; depending on the process objectives, cellulose can be perceived as either a valuable resource or a stubborn impediment. The subjects addressed include (1) the possible methods of directly converting animal manure and plant residues into animal feedstuffs or human food, (2) the potential for anaerobic fermentation processes (particularly farm-size units) to produce energy and food from agricultural wastes while effectively controlling pollution, and (3) the thermochemical conversion of residues via combustion, partial oxidation-pyrolysis, and fluid-phase reactors. A discussion of the application of all these techniques to a single waste (rye-grass straw) places the array of available options into perspective.
- OSTI ID:
- 5619517
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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