giving a lecture on waste-based bio refineries Monday in the Encana
Auditorium of the Energy Innovation Center.
The University of Wyoming hosted the 2013-14 Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Distinguished Lecturer, Prof. Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht on yesterday in the new Energy Innovation Center.
Prof. Loosdrecht is a professor at in the Department of Biotechnology at the Delft University of Technology in Delft, The Netherlands. He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of the Arts and Sciences and the Dutch Academy of Engineering. He has also been awarded a knighthood in the order of the Dutch Lion.
Prof. Loosdrecht spoke to a gathering of students and professors about the processes and technological gains found in the industry of Waste-Based Biorefineries.
These facilities focus on an environmental approach to producing products, chemicals, and energy from the waste products of society, generally sewer water.
One of the subsets of products that can be manufactured from organic waste products through the processes used in these biorefineries is called Polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHA. This compound is what is used to produce bio plastics.
“Not all products such as this are biodegradable.” Said Loosdrecht. “But most are, and they are completely indistinguishable from plastic cups we see every day.”
Plants such as these can be used in an array of ways to reuse waste material from a population and utilize it in such a way to be both fiscally and environmentally beneficial. Despite this, there are very few existing biorefineries in the U.S., with most being constructed and used in Europe.
Loosdrecht points out that the public perception of such facilities is important for their general acceptance.
“There’s a difference in public opinion of these facilities between Europe and the United States.” Loosdrecht said. “How would they be accepted here? I can’t really say.”
The economic advantages of these facilities can be far reaching. Many products that can be manufactured from biorefineries are in high demand, and don’t cost a large amount to produce.
Another polymer type material that Waste-Based Biorefineries are set up to produce is derived from an alginate material. This polymer can be utilized for a variety of end results, such as water resistant paper, a means to produce more vibrantly colored clothing and is used in the production of high end imitation caviar.
As of now, the world produces only roughly 3600 tons of alginate based polymer material a year, with a single biorefinery possessing the capabilities to produce 5000 tons of that total. Due to the scarcity of the product, it costs a lot in respect to its production costs. Biorefinery technology has the potential to command a large amount of economic power. However, this potential is not being utilized fully in the United States.
