[Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 11

Thu Jun 7 11:46:42 CDT 2007

Hi All,

Regarding 'reductionism' 'multipurposism' 'real worldism' and probably
other isms that might frame this discussion. For present purposes only,
let us narrow the discussion to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

The defining characteristics of MSW are: heterogeneity, variability,
abrasiveness, and wetness - or its opposite. Perhaps 2/3rds of the mixture
is biodegradable - though rapidity is quite wide-ranging. The problem is
not merely to transform the biodegradables to methane, but also to
separate out recyclables (suitable as secondary materials) and junk
(landfillables) while preparing the biodegradables for efficient
(dangerous word - many meanings) transformation.

OK - you can source separate organics at the community level and feed the
biodegradables to digestion. But two things: 1) Even SSOs are not
completely separated (understatement); 2) This approach (in my view)
starts you down the road of "elitism" and "boutique" operation that can
barely scratch the surface of the huge and growing mountain of MSW.

All this is preliminary to suggest that the company I represent (ArrowBio)
has taken a novel approach to the integration of materials and energy
recovery. Our reference plant is at the Tel Aviv, Israel, transfer
station;
a 100,000 tpy ArrowBio mixed waste plant is under construction as part of
the Macarthur Resource Recovery Park outside of Sydney, Australia. Much
more is in the works.

If interested, suggest visiting <www.arrowbio.com> click on FILM for a
4-minute show of the Tel Aviv operation (been many upgrades in
separation/preparation function since 2003 when this flick was made). I'd
attach files here, but am not sure if this accords with Digestion Digest
courtesy guidelines. Anyway above gives you starting  ammunition for
Googling, and I'd be glad to respond collectively or individually to
queries.

Best to all,

Mel

Melvin S. Finstein, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Environmental Science
 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Head, ArrowBio USA

105 Carmel Road
Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 242-0341
Email: finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu
Skype: melvinfinstein

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9 (Paul Harris)
>    2. Re: Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9 (Art Krenzel)
>    3. Multipurpose digesters? (Duncan Martin)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:59:40 +0930
> From: Paul Harris <paul.harris at adelaide.edu.au>
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9
> To: Alex Marshall <MarshallAl at rpsgroup.com>
> Cc: digestion at listserv.repp.org
> Message-ID: <46676D94.A1CB76BA at adelaide.edu.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> G'day All,
>
> We are all too "Reductionist" - living in our little boxes oblivious to
> the "real world".
>
> I am involved in an "integrated biosystems" project where the "waste" of
> one enterprise becomes an input to another enterprise and you can end up
> looping back to the original enterprise. For example pig manure put into
> an AD system provides biogas, organic fertiliser for grain growing and
> nutrient rich water that is used for aquaculture, then the grain can be
> fed back to pigs and you get fish meal as well as water for horticulture
> as bonuses.
>
> Happy digesting,
> HOOROO
>
> Alex Marshall wrote:
>>
>> Dear Digestion Mailing List
>>
>> It often frustrates me that there is little integrated thinking between
>> different digestion systems and industries. It seems that farmers, water
>> industry and the waste industry all deal with the technology largely
>> independently of each other. Why does it seem that the link up is so
>> poor? The power industry in the UK is starting to wake up to the
>> embedded generation potential of AD systems and may well bring a more
>> rounded approach. Does anyone know of any systems that are integrated,
>> handling a wider range of feedstocks or with a broader-minded approach?
>>
>> Alex Marshall - Senior Consultant
>> Waste Technology Team
>> RPS Planning & Development, Severn House, 1-4 Fountain Court, Woodlands
>> Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32  4LA
>>
>> ( Direct dial: 01454 284480 ( Switchboard: 01454 284450   ( Mobile:
>> 07810 156627
>> 2 Fax: 01454 284499       * email: marshallal at rpsgroup.com
>> web: www.rpsgroup.com/waste
> --
> Mr. Paul Harris
> Room G8, Leske Building
> Faculty of Sciences,
> The  University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, AUSTRALIA 5371
> Ph    : +61 8 8303 7880
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:40:35 -0700
> From: "Art Krenzel" <phoenix98604 at msn.com>
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9
> To: "Paul Harris" <paul.harris at adelaide.edu.au>,	"Alex Marshall"
> 	<MarshallAl at rpsgroup.com>
> Cc: digestion at listserv.repp.org
> Message-ID: <BAY108-DAV173C1CD28847037C58A0769B260 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=original
>
> Paul,
>
> Those are exciting concepts - integrated biological systems.
>
> Can you share more about the size, feed stocks, finished products, volumes
> of water and gases, etc.
>
> I have only been able to do pieces of such a system with minor
> integration.
> I would like to see a full blown system, in balance and operating year
> round.
>
> Art Krenzel
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul Harris" <paul.harris at adelaide.edu.au>
> To: "Alex Marshall" <MarshallAl at rpsgroup.com>
> Cc: <digestion at listserv.repp.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 7:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9
>
>
>> G'day All,
>>
>> We are all too "Reductionist" - living in our little boxes oblivious to
>> the "real world".
>>
>> I am involved in an "integrated biosystems" project where the "waste" of
>> one enterprise becomes an input to another enterprise and you can end up
>> looping back to the original enterprise. For example pig manure put into
>> an AD system provides biogas, organic fertiliser for grain growing and
>> nutrient rich water that is used for aquaculture, then the grain can be
>> fed back to pigs and you get fish meal as well as water for horticulture
>> as bonuses.
>>
>> Happy digesting,
>> HOOROO
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 12:44:58 +0100
> From: "Duncan Martin" <duncanjmartin at eircom.net>
> Subject: [Digestion] Multipurpose digesters?
> To: "Alex Marshall" <MarshallAl at rpsgroup.com>,
> 	<digestion at listserv.repp.org>
> Message-ID: <01e601c7a8fa$3a296430$af32869f at Dell1>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=original
>
> Alex and all
>
> I agree with the sentiments behind your posting.  I have a very comparable
> frustration over the lack of communication between those studying
> anaerobic
> digestion in digesters and the essentially similar process that goes on in
> landfills containing organic waste. I believe that has led the latter
> research community simply assuming that the same reaction mechanisms must
> apply. However my own research, which has been the subject of numerous
> publications, suggests that the process in landfills can sometimes work in
> a
> quite different way, albeit based on the same fundamental chemistry and
> microbiology.
>
> However, I think you are suggesting a step too far. If I read you
> correctly,
> you would like to see multipurpose digesters, capable of handling a wide
> range of feedstocks. To my mind, this is an unlikely concept.  The range
> of
> feedstocks handled by different digesters is very wide and the different
> systems needed for handling them require substantially different design
> approaches.  The history of anaerobic digestion is littered with examples
> of
> plants that have failed due to an inadequate appreciation of the specific
> characteristics of the feedstocks being used.
>
> A multipurpose plant is not impossible, of course.  However, anaerobic
> digestion has always operated to date on the margins of economic
> viability,
> so it would be very difficult to make the case for adding extra features
> to
> accommodate a variety of feedstocks. It generally makes more sense to
> design
> for a single feedstock the future supply of which can be more or less
> guaranteed.
>
> By all means let us broaden our minds: I am all for more communication.
>
> However I would be very wary of broadening our digesters. Of course, the
> day
> might come when rising energy prices make this a viable option. But I
> think
> it is still some way off.
>
> Duncan
>
> PS Could I repeat Paul's recent 'process' plea one one of my own:
> a) Please delete any long tails of previous messages when you post a
> message
> b) Please use an explicit title on your message
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alex Marshall" <MarshallAl at rpsgroup.com>
> To: <digestion at listserv.repp.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 5:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 9
>
>
>> Dear Digestion Mailing List
>>
>> It often frustrates me that there is little integrated thinking between
>> different digestion systems and industries. It seems that farmers, water
>> industry and the waste industry all deal with the technology largely
>> independently of each other. Why does it seem that the link up is so
>> poor? The power industry in the UK is starting to wake up to the
>> embedded generation potential of AD systems and may well bring a more
>> rounded approach. Does anyone know of any systems that are integrated,
>> handling a wider range of feedstocks or with a broader-minded approach?
>>
>>
>> Alex Marshall - Senior Consultant
>> Waste Technology Team
>> RPS Planning & Development, Severn House, 1-4 Fountain Court, Woodlands
>> Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32  4LA
>>
>> ( Direct dial: 01454 284480 ( Switchboard: 01454 284450   ( Mobile:
>> 07810 156627
>> 2 Fax: 01454 284499       * email: marshallal at rpsgroup.com
>> web: www.rpsgroup.com/waste
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: digestion-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>>
>
>
>
>
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>
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> End of Digestion Digest, Vol 12, Issue 11
> *****************************************
>