ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH SOLID WASTE?

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ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCETHROUGH SOLID
WASTE?
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POLICY DESCRIPTION

• Ensuring our energy independence by converting
  forms of solid waste into valuable sources of
  oil, while at the same time having a positive
  impact on the environment.

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Problems to be Addressed

• 1) Finding an alternative source of oil in order
  to reduce the effects of a 25 reduction of oil
  imports.
• 2) Finding this source without adversely
  impacting the environment.

• 3) Finding a procedure which is cost efficient
  and technologically feasible.
• 4) Receiving approval from affected
  infrastructures (i.e. petroleum companies and
  governmental agencies).

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CONCLUSIONS

• 1) In the somewhat near future this could be a
  potential for an alternative source of oil.
  However, If we were to lose 25 of or oil imports
  tomorrow this would not be a viable alternative.
• 2) Not only would this process move us closer to
  energy independence but it would also have a
  positive effect on the environment and health of
  the general population.

• 3) This new technology is not only supported by
  local, state and federal agencies but is also
  supported by oil companies.
• 4) The process of turning solid waste into a
  viable source of oil is affordable and
  technologically feasible.

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Definitions

• Solid Waste Non-liquid, non-soluble materials
  ranging from municipal garbage to industrial
  wastes that contain complex and sometimes
  hazardous substances. Solid wastes also include
  sewage sludge, agricultural refuse, demolition
  wastes, and mining residues. Technically, solid
  waste also refers to liquids and gases in
  containers. 1
• Biomass The total mass of living matter within
  a given unit of environmental area. or
• Plant material, vegetation, or agricultural
  waste used as a fuel or energy source. 2

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Definitions (2)

• Municipal Solid Waste Common garbage or trash
  generated by industries, businesses,
  institutions, and homes.
• Feedstock The raw materials being supplied, or
  fed into a manufacturing process to make a
  valuable product.
• Hydrocarbon Any class of compounds containing
  only hydrogen and carbon.
• Organic Material Compounds made with Carbon.
• British Thermal Unit (BTU) The quantity of heat
  required to raise the temp of one pound of water
  one degree Fahrenheit

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History and Background Of
SOLID WASTE
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Early History of Solid Waste

• PRE-CITY
• Prior to densely populated urban centers peoples
  waste consisted of mainly organic materials which
  they burned, used as fertilizers or as feed for
  livestock.
• Some early communities were unable to use their
  waste. These communities would create a garbage
  pile and when it became an issue they would
  simply move.

• The Early City
• The problem of what to do with waste presented
  itself as people started moving into cities.
• Due to the risk to health and safety, dumping of
  waste in streets or yards had to be discontinued.
• The citizens of urban centers started to dump the
  waste in the countryside.

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CURRENTLY . . .

• Dumping practices of old still exist. However,
  since space to dump is limited landfills have
  become the modern dumping mechanism.
• As of 1999 61 of US solid waste was disposed of
  in landfills.
• The waste that is disposed of today consist of
  materials that our ancestors could not have
  dreamed of ( i.e. cleaning solutions, fertilizers
  and paint). These materials pose serious risk to
  public health and safety as they contaminate our
  water sources.
• Because the space for landfills is limited, the
  prices for disposal of waste have increased.
• New technologies and recycling could mitigate
  current landfill problems.

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Municipal Solid Waste
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What is Municipal
Solid Waste (MSW)?

• MSW includes things like. . .
• Grass clippings, newspapers, paints, batteries,
  furniture, appliances (basically anything people
  consider garbage)

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HOW MUCH MSW DO WE CREATE?

• As of 1999 the U.S. (businesses and residents)
  produced over 230 million tons of MSW.
• This statistic breaks down to 4.6 pounds of waste
  per day per person.
• This figure is almost double that of the 1960
  figures (2.6 pounds per day per person).

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HOW IS MSW CURRENTLY DEALT WITH?

• 1) Source Reduction
• Alternation of use, design or manufacturing of a
  product (i.e. double sided copying)
• Most preferred strategy
• 2) Recycling
• Certain items (i.e. glass and paper) are sorted
  and then resold.
• Controls the amount of waste that enters the
  waste stream

• 3) Composting
• Decomposes organic waste with microorganisms .
• 4) Combustion
• Although combustion of MSW can form a source of
  energy the air emissions create environmental
  risk
• 5) Landfills
• Governed by RCRA
• Regulated primarily by state/local governments
• Although there are fewer landfills remaining, the
  capacity of landfills have been maintained.

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Waste to Energy Plants

• WTE plants dispose of MSW and create electricity
  in the process
• 1998 figures suggest that 17 of the U.S.s MSW
  was burned for this purpose.
• These facilities can reduce MSW by 90, however
  the emissions from these plants have negative
  environmental impacts. As a result of these
  impacts these facilities are strictly regulated
  by the EPA.

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HOW DO WE TURN WASTE IN TO OIL?

• THERMO-DEPOLYMERIZATION
• PROCESS (TDP)

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What is TDP?

• TDP copies the geological and geothermal
  processes of nature. The technology emulates
  what occurs daily in the earths subduction
  zones, but uses an accelerated process combining
  water, temperature and pressure in a totally
  contained environment. The Thermo-Depolymerizatio
  n and Chemical Reforming Process converts
  hydrocarbon and organic materials into clean
  fuels and specialty chemicals.

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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TDP (1)
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Who is Responsible for TDP (2)

• TDP was invented by an Illinois microbiologist by
  the name of Baskis.
• He developed the TDP by improving upon other
  waste-reforming technologies.
• He sold the patents to CWT in 1996 and in 1999
  the first prototype was built in PA.

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HOW DOES TDP WORK (1)?

• 1st The feedstock (waste) is fed into a
  hopper.
• 2nd The waste goes to the mixing tank where it
  is mixed with water to form a slurry.

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HOW DOES TDP WORK (2)

• 3rd The slurry is placed under pressure and
  heated in the TDP.
• During the 1st stage the slurry is place under
  750 psi of pressure at 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
  During the second stage the pressure is reduced
  to 25 to 50 psi and the temperature is raised to
  1,000 degrees.
• This rapid depressurization separates 90 of the
  slurrys water. The water is then sent back up
  through the pipes to the beginning to heat the
  incoming stream.
• At this state the minerals from the waste settle
  and are sent to storage and are latter used for
  fertilizer

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HOW DOES TDP WORK (3)

• 4th The rest of the slurry is sent into a
  reactor where it is heated to break a part its
  molecular chains.
• 6th The oil, gas and water are separated in
  vertical distillation columns (Similar to a
  refiner).
• Water is separated from the oils and carbon
• The gas produced is used on-site to heat the
  process

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HOW DOES TDP WORK (4)

• Depending on the feedstock the TDP process can be
  altered in order to produce certain specialty
  chemicals (i.e. fatty acids for soap)
• Different waste requires different heating and
  cooking times but anything (except nuclear waste)
  can be used for feedstock.

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HOW DOES TDP WORK (5)?
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What Type of Waste Can the TDP Process?

• Food Industry
• Crop residuals, poultry plant waste,
  slaughterhouse waste
• Petroleum, Coal, Shale Tar Sand industries
• Processes waste from bottom of tanks, heavy crude
  oil, coal and shale and tar sands
• Paper and Pulping
• Eliminates the black liquor problem
• Plastics
• Converts PVC, HDPE and mixed plastics

• Tires and Rubber
• Tire industries waste includes scraps, oil,
  plastics, wood and steel
• Hazardous Waste
• Instead of incineration the harmful materials are
  destroyed through TDP
• Medical Infectious Waste
• Kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens
• MSW
• Take the nonvaluable recyclables and processes
  them

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What is produced (1)?

• Hydrocarbon Oils
• Typical elements of the oil produced consists of
  Cyclohexane (i.e paint remover), Methylethyl
  Benzene (i.e. rubber and waxes), Toluene (i.e.
  solvent for manufacturing of explosives). And
  Cyclopropane. The oil can be broken down into
  these separate elements
• It is a high value crude oil product which
  refiners, fuel blenders and boiler operations are
  potential markets.
• Gas
• Fuel gas (methane, propane and butane) with
  sufficient BTU levels to operate turbines or
  boilers in order to create electricity or steam.

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What is produced (2)?

• Solid/Minerals
• Minerals produced are valuable fertilizers for
  the agriculture industry
• Fatty Acid Oils
• These will be obtained from agriculture and
  forestry feedstock
• They can be used for such things as soap,
  lubricants and rubber products
• Solid/Carbon
• Used as a filter or fuel source

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What is Produced (3) TDP Produced Oil
Premium
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FYI -- Production Capabilities

• If all of the agricultural waste, in the US, was
  processed by TDP, the production output would be
  the equivalent of 4 billion barrels of oil/year !
• US OIL IMPORTS 4.2 BARRELS (2001)

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DOLLAR and CENTS
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Dollar and Cents (1)

• The estimated cost of the 1st commercial TDP site
  is 15 million dollars.
• The operational cost are minimal because
• 1) It is a closed system so no environmental
  clean up cost
• 2) The process creates its own gas to power the
  operation.
• Keep in mind that the end product is marketable.
  

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Dollar and Cents (2)EPA and DOE
Grants

• EPA awarded a grant of 5 million for the first
  commercial scale site.
• Department of Energy awarded a 7 million grant
  for the site

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FYI- Oil Production Costs

• According to the inventor of TDP, Oil could be
  produced at 8-12/Barrel.

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ENVIRONMENTAL BONUSES
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Environmental Bonuses (1)

• Water is the only waste from the system
  (discharged into the city sewage).
• Energy efficiency is 85 (for every 100 Btus in
  the feedstock the process only uses 15 to run)
• Does not use combustion therefore the process
  does not emit harmful pollutants such as dioxins.
  

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Environmental Bonuses (2)

• Reduces the need to dispose of harmful materials.
• Helps reduce the problems associated with
  landfills.
• TDP can be used to clean coal prior to
  combustion. It does this by reducing sulfur
  content and eliminating mercury. Also, Methane
  and Propane will be extracted from the coal.
• By recycling waste TDP reduces the emission of
  greenhouse gases.

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Effects on the Petroleum Infrastructure

• This new technology will work together with the
  petroleum infrastructure
• CTW will need petroleum companies to refine the
  oil TDP produces.
• Transportation of the oil would be handled by the
  existing petroleum industries.
• Currently there are discussions taking place with
  petroleum companies for joint ventures

• The TDP bridges the gap between the petroleum
  industry and the renewable energy sector by
  providing a new source of clean, high quality
  oils that will supplement dwindling oil
  reserves.

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Permitting

• For the purposes of permitting the plants are not
  treated as waste treatment facilities rather they
  are treated as manufacturers.
• Since no combustion takes place inside the plant
  there is no pollution. Because of this the
  plants receive a solid waste permit waiver.

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U.S. PETROLEUM FLOW
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TDP PLANTS

• There is currently one pilot plant operating in
  Philadelphia.
• This facility currently processes agricultural
  waste.
• The first commercial scale plant is currently
  under construction.

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Butterball Turkey PlantCarthage Missouri 1st
Commercial Scale Plant.
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HOW DID IT ALLCOME ABOUT (1)?

• ConAgra and Changing World Technologies teamed up
  and formed Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC
  (RES)
• RES was formed in order to process agricultural
  waste and low-value streams.
• RES holds the patent for the agriculture TDP
  process.

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How Did It All Come About (2)?

• With the waste disposal problem, at facilities
  like the Butterball Turkey Plant, this seemed
  like a good venture for ConAgra.
• The cost and health risks associated with
  disposal of animal waste can become a huge risk
  for a food company.
• Most food processing plants take the waste and
  use it as feed for the livestock. This can cause
  such things as mad cow disease and foot and mouth
  disease.
• As you may remember, last year ConAgra had a
  major nationwide recall on some of its beef.

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BACKGROUND

• ConAgras Butterball Turkey plant in Carthage
  Missouri is the first commercial TDP facility.
• Construction started on July 28, 2001.
• It was projected to open in the Fall of 2002.
• The project has not yet been completed.
• The new projection is that it will open in late
  April of 2003.
• Everyday that the plant is not in operation it is
  costing ConAgra a considerable amount of money.

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INPUT AND OUTPUT FROM THE BUTTERBALL TURKEY PLANT

• INPUT
• Fats
• Bones
• Feathers
• Cartilage

• OUTPUT
• Oil
• Very high grade oil TDP-40 is what the company
  is calling it.
• The 40 stands indicates the weight of the oil.
• Gases
• High Quality Fertilizers
• Specialty Chemicals

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End Product Distribution

• 75 Oil
• 15 Fuel-Gas
• 10 Carbon and Minerals

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Quantity of End Product

• Simple Mathematics
• The Butterball Turkey Plant produces 200 tons of
  waste a day.
• 75 of that can be converted into oil 150 tons
• First, take 150 x 2000 pounds 300,000 lbs
• Next, take 300,000/7 (lbs per gal of oil)
  42,857.14
• Then, take 42,857.14/42 (Gal per Barrel)
  1020.41 Barrels/day
• Finally take 1020.41 x 365 372,449.65 barrels/yr

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What if we lose 25 of our Oil imports?

• The U.S. imports approximately 11.5 million
  barrels of oil a day.
• 25 of 11.5 million is 2,876,712 barrels/day
• 2,876,712 x 365 1,003,750,000 barrels/year
• 1,050,000,000/372,449.65 (plants
  production/yr)2,819
• That means that we would need approximately 2,819
  plants with as much output as the Butterball
  Turkey plant to cover the 25 reduction

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THE FUTRUE OF TDP

• Future Plant Sites
• 1) Fernley Nevada
• 2) Enterprise Alabama
• 3) Athens Georgia
• 4) Longmount Colorado
• RES has started negotiations for a 200 ton/day
  plant in Italy.

• The Philadelphia pilot plant has recently been
  approved to process tires, plastics, sludges and
  MSW.
• EPA/DOE grants have been given for the Alabama
  and Nevada sites totaling 7 million.

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How Does TDP stack up to other Processes?

• TDP can work with wet feedstock (no need to dry
  out the material) therefore TDP requires less
  energy than its counterparts
• Product separation is easier
• Low temperatures for the gaseous product
• TDP cost less
• Products from the other processes have low value
  because it is usually high in tar and asphalt
• Other processes do not heat evenly so the end
  product varies

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How Does TDP Stack Up to Other Waste Disposal
Mechanisms ?

• Incineration
• Environmental permitting is more difficult for
  incinerators
• Incinerators are not compatible with all waste.
• The equipment is large
• Adverse environmental impacts.

• Land Disposal
• Disposal costs are rapidly increasing
• Gas produced by landfills are a major source of
  air pollution.
• Adverse environmental impacts ( i.e.
  contamination of water sources).

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IN CONCLUSION. . .
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Legal Conclusions

• There will be very few legal consequences from
  TDP. Considering the low environmental impacts
  and the valuable output, the legal ramifications
  will be far and few between if and when the TDP
  takes off.

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Conclusion (1)

• As with every great new technology there is a
  fair amount of apprehension. Therefore, getting
  companies to jump on the TDP bandwagon could be a
  major task for Changing World Technologies.
• One of the major problems with this particular
  new technology is that not very many people know
  about it. If this new technology catches on the
  amount of imported oil the United States needs
  could dramatically decrease.

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Conclusion (2)

• Economically speaking the exact product output
  of the 1st commercial scale site is still a
  little unclear. However, if the plant simply
  manages to break even the positive impacts on the
  environment makes this technology worthwhile.

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Practically Speaking

• Although TDP is a huge step toward energy
  independence, up to now there is only one
  commercial scale site in the works. Therefore,
  the practicality of TDP solving our energy
  problems immediately is not likely. However, it
  is a possibility for the future.

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THE END

• THANK YOU!