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Municipal solid waste management: trash to biomass treasure

Wednesday,
Nov 05
Municipal Solid Waste Management

Waste materials play an important part in producing biofuels and biofuels help prevent putting a strain on the earth. Biomass energy is an alternative renewable energy source and is produced using waste materials. This has many benefits for the environment. Biofuels that are produced from waste materials burn much cleaner than fossil fuels so there is a lot less pollution and harmful carbon emissions released into the air. Biofuels also do not depend on traditional fossil fuels, like oil and coal, so they do not deplete the resources of the earth and will never run out. Since they use waste materials, there is less left to sit in a landfill and to harm the environment. Biofuels can also help end dependence on high priced oil and other fossil fuels. Approximately 45 percent of renewable alternative energy used in the United States comes from biomass energy and biofuels.

Biomass energy is created from organic waste materials like leftover wood, husks and shells from corn and rice, sugar cane that has already been pressed, and others. Some biomass energy is created using special crops that grow rapidly, have no food value, and can be used for energy production exclusively. These include switchgrass and willow. Biomass energy can be used to produce electricity, heat, and biofuels that are clean burning and environmentally friendly.

Biofuels start with organic waste products. These waste products are processed to produce cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, which can substitute gasoline and diesel fuels. Organic wastes are used to create biofuels, which have many advantages over fossil fuels, such as they can easily be produced right here in America. There are many biomass plants in the country already that use wood and other organic wastes from other industries to help minimize the demand for fossil fuels.

Ethanol is one of the two most common biofuels available and is produced by heating up cellulose organic waste products. During this process, microbes break down the starches and sugars in the plant material. This turns the waste products into ethanol. Any waste material that is organic and grown at one time can be used to make ethanol, and there are plants in the country that make this biofuel from potato peels, whey from cheese producers, and many other types of organic plant materials.
Cellulosic Ethanol

Biodiesel is the other commonly known biofuel and is very environmentally friendly and offers many benefits over regular diesel. Biodiesel is created from soybeans and other oily plant materials. Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel or used alone in engines. The carbon emissions for this fuel are significantly less than for traditional diesel fuel. Biodiesel is produced from animal fats and plant oils that are chemically changed. Vegetable oils that are used for cooking can also be used to create biodiesel for your car or truck. There is a process called thermal depolymerization, which takes wastes and separates them into all the included molecules. The end result is clean water, oil that is high quality, and minerals in their pure form. This process uses pressure and heat, similar to the natural process that the earth uses, only the end products are much cleaner than fossil fuels.

Biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels that burn much cleaner and can help eliminate dependence on fossil fuels and foreign countries. There are a few countries that are against developing these fuels because of fears that food supplies will drop and food prices will rise, but this does not have to be the case. There are many crops that can be used to produce biofuels and many of these crops do not require fertile land so there should be little concern regarding biofuel crops affecting food crops.

3 Responses to “Municipal solid waste management: trash to biomass treasure”

  1. 1
    cheap Breitling watches Says:

    Beautiful piece of work, thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to more

    August 26th, 2010 at 4:07 am
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    Michael S. Says:

    Fine website, in which did you come up with the info in this piece? I¡¯m pleased I uncovered it though, ill be checking back quickly to find out what other content articles you might have.

    August 18th, 2010 at 2:05 am
  3. 3
    kingsley Says:

    Quite interesting.I am a young talented under graduate in Botany.
    With reference to the field of my study,can I do something with the plenty waste and vegetations around me in biofuel production or an alternative so that I can be self-empowered? If yes please how do I start? Thanks and more power to you elbow.

    October 9th, 2009 at 8:55 am

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