Reuse of municipal solid wastes by recycling and conversion to energy and chemicals
- Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL (United States). Biotechnology Dept.
- Mississippi State Univ., MS (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
- Pedro Panzardi and Associates, Hato Rey (Puerto Rico)
- Eco-Futures Caribe, Inc., Hato Rey (Puerto Rico)
The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is becoming an environmental problem throughout the world. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been involved in developing technology to recover recyclables and convert MSW to chemicals such as fuel ethanol, since 1987. Resource assessments conducted in the United States have shown that there is about 240 million tons of MSW produced annually. Tests have been performed in TVA facilities with local MSW. In the tropical areas of the world, MSW may have a different composition and may be much wetter than in the United States. TVA initiated development work with Puerto Rico to evaluate wastes from a more tropical country and compare with local studies. Puerto Rico produces approximately 8,000 tons per day of MSW. This and other concerns led to the creation of a public/private alliance of Puerto Rico with Eco-Futures International, Inc., and its subsidiary Eco-Futures Caribe, Inc. This alliance is examining the feasibility of a new approach for dealing with the growing MSW issues of the Island. The Eco-Futures` approach involves the integration of multiple advanced technologies of which an important component would be biomass conversion based on an acid hydrolysis process developed by the TVA and Mississippi State University (MSU). This process produces simple sugars such as glucose and xylose that can be converted to fuel ethanol and other chemicals. The process also results in the production of a chemically clean and environmentally benign solid fuel which can be used in power production. A detailed survey of solid wastes delivered to the landfills over the entire island was conducted. The quantity and quality of recyclable materials such as metals, glass, and plastics were determined in the first phase of the project. The largest fraction of the wastes was biomass such as paper, yard wastes, and putrecibles.
- OSTI ID:
- 116283
- Journal Information:
- World Resource Review, Vol. 7, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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