Abstract
Purpose: Thermal conversion of bio-waste faces several drawbacks due to the inhomogeneity of the waste but also from several other parameters like the high water content. This study aims to apply a novel treatment in order to upgrade streams from organic waste into valuable products.
Methods: This novel method takes place in a Rotary Compression Unit (RCU) and it mainly consists of a friction auger and a series of other auxiliary augers. For the purpose of this project, fresh poultry droppings and fresh anaerobic digester offal from a cattle feedlot were processed.
Results: Compressional frictional treatment upgraded the waste into a fuel comparable to coal with increased heating value or a biochar-based soil remediation source. These two technologies are patented under the names BioCoal™ and Salt and Pepper™ respectively.
Main conclusions: The application of pressure and friction for the propagation of the process creates favourable conditions in comparison to conventional methods for drying, sterilization and, potentially, carbonization of the input waste.