MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Jan. 16, 2009 — Based on its recent analysis of process innovation in original equipment manufacturing (OEM)/system integration for biosolids management, Frost & Sullivan has recognized EnerTech Environmental, Inc. with the 2008 Global Frost & Sullivan Green Excellence of the Year Award for its patented SlurryCarb™ process.
The system uses biosolids to generate energy, thus addressing biosolids handling in an effective and sustainable manner.
"In the SlurryCarb process, biosolids are heated under pressure to break the cell wall and chemical bonds of microorganisms in a process called de-carboxylization," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst, Prasannna Mohan. "The reaction releases carbon dioxide and makes the remaining solids hydrophobic, which means they do not absorb water."
The success of the process lies in its ability to extract the entrained water from the cells of the biosolids that do not break down even during anaerobic digestion. This is achieved by subjecting biosolids to appropriate pressure and temperature using a high pressure pump, heat exchanger respectively. After de-carboxylization and dewatering, an energy-rich slurry with nearly 50 percent dry solids is obtained, which is further dried to produce a dry solid fuel.
The entire process consumes approximately a third of the energy required for conventional drying processes. The resulting clean, renewable fuel, called E-Fuel™, contains almost twice as much energy as the SlurryCarb process consumes to produce it, and therefore produces truly renewable energy. E-Fuel used in place of fossil fuels offsets carbon dioxide emissions.
"E-Fuel has properties similar to that of low-grade coals and can be substituted in cement kilns or in industrial/utility boilers to reduce the usage of fossil fuels," notes Prasanna Mohan. "Since E-Fuel is beneficially recycled, the need to landfill biosolids is eliminated, thus meeting the EPA's strategic goals in biosolids management."
Net greenhouse gas emissions from the process are essentially zero. The carbon released from E-Fuel during combustion is part of the recent carbon cycle and hence does not contribute to global warming.
"The SlurryCarb process removes more than 99 percent of the feed chlorine, greatly reducing hydrochloride emissions and boiler corrosion," said Prasanna Mohan. "The carbon oxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxides, methane, trace metal, and dioxide emissions from the combustion of E-Fuel are well below EPA standards, without any extensive control systems."
The process can be used alone or combined with the existing wastewater treatment facilities, providing flexibility to its users. It also guarantees savings in capital and operational costs since, unlike traditional methods, the collected biosolids are processed in a continuous manner to attain the end-product.
For more information, please visit www.enertech.com.