Our solution to the problem of disposing Municipal Waste with the least impact for the environment and with the maximum benefit in terms of energy production is based on the “molecular dissociation” process.
Waste is charged, without any previous treatment, into closed cells, where the O2 level and temperatures are kept low (around 6% in volume and between 300 and 500 °C (500-930 °F), respectively) for at least 24 hours. This allows organic reactions to take place slowly.
Reactions are self-sustaining and large organic molecules break up into smaller compounds, mainly carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane (which form the so-called syngas). Some oxidation is carried out, but not enough for dioxines or other dangerous chlorine-containing aromatics to form. Since reactions are quite calm, much less fine dust and heavy metals are obtained than in incinerators.
Process temperature is lower than light metals (Al, Cu, etc.) melting points, so they can be retrieved quite clean at the end of the process. For the above reasons, the output syngas also comes out clean and can be sold as fuel for gas engines. Or hydrogen can be separated from it and sold to be fed to fuel cells for high-yield energy production.
Costs and necessary land extension are limited.
See here our presentation in pdf format
Our industrial partner is the company Energo in Rome.
We are also coordinating the efforts of a group of researchers, from industrial, medical and regulatory side, aimed at implementing a process for hospital refuse disposal.
