SBIR Phase I: Energy Efficient Conversion of Waste Tire Rubber into a Novel Slow Release Fertilizer/Soil Amendment Formula

SBIR 第一阶段：将废轮胎橡胶高效节能地转化为新型缓释肥料/土壤改良配方

• 批准号: 1315555
• 负责人: Alexander Oliferenko
• 金额: $ 14.81万
• 依托单位: EigenChem Technologies Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-07-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1315555&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Energy; Efficient; Conversion

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes a novel technology for an economical conversion of waste tire rubber into a unique ?two-in-one? fertilizer/soil amendment formula. This is in a sharp contrast with how the scrap tires are disposed nowadays: either by landfilling or by burning for energy or by shredding. Landfilling and burning are environmentally harmful, while mechanical methods as well as pyrolysis approaches are energy demanding. This innovation introduces an energy efficient one-step chemical process that turns waste tire rubber into a highly useful multi-purpose agricultural product. When introduced into the soil, it serves as a slow release nitrogen fertilizer enriched with sulfur and zinc micronutrients as well as a water-holding agent, a soil conditioner with the bulking, aerating, and drainage functions. This multifunctional material will be useful for horticulture, nurseries, sod production, and also for turf grass management in golf courses and athletic fields. The goal of this project is to prove the process chemistry technically viable and scalable and to determine chemical, physical, and environmental characteristics of the proposed product critical for a commercial deployment.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project involves about 300 million automotive tires discarded annually in the US and up to one billion in the whole world. This potentially disruptive innovation will deliver a sustainable solution for the pressing waste management problem of tire recycling. It will provide a valuable and affordable slow-release fertilizer/soil amendment formula for the agricultural sector as well as for athletic and recreational facilities. Another possible application will be an oil absorbent/bioremediation accelerator for oil spills emergency responses. Experimental and theoretical knowledge obtained due to this project will enrich diverse scientific disciplines such as waste management, soil science, chemistry and technology of rubber, and organic chemistry. Rendering waste tires a renewable resource and a commercially viable product will promote the values of sustainable development among the public, which is important in the era of reducing natural resources.

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目提出了一种新的技术，用于将废轮胎橡胶经济地转化为独特的？二合一？肥料/土壤改良剂配方这与当今处理废旧轮胎的方式形成了鲜明的对比：要么通过填埋，要么通过燃烧获取能源，要么通过粉碎。填埋和焚烧对环境有害，而机械方法以及热解方法需要大量能源。这项创新引入了一种节能的一步化学工艺，将废轮胎橡胶转化为高度有用的多用途农产品。当它被引入土壤时，它作为富含硫和锌微量营养素的缓释氮肥以及保水剂，具有膨胀，通气和排水功能的土壤改良剂。这种多功能材料可用于园艺、苗圃、草皮生产，也可用于高尔夫球场和运动场的草坪管理。该项目的目标是证明工艺化学在技术上的可行性和可扩展性，并确定对商业部署至关重要的拟议产品的化学，物理和环境特性。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力涉及美国每年丢弃的约3亿个汽车轮胎和全球高达10亿个汽车轮胎。这一潜在的颠覆性创新将为轮胎回收的紧迫废物管理问题提供可持续的解决方案。它将为农业部门以及体育和娱乐设施提供有价值和负担得起的缓释肥料/土壤改良剂配方。另一个可能的应用是用于漏油应急反应的吸油剂/生物修复加速剂。通过该项目获得的实验和理论知识将丰富各种科学学科，如废物管理、土壤科学、橡胶化学和技术以及有机化学。使废轮胎成为可再生资源和商业上可行的产品将在公众中推广可持续发展的价值观，这在自然资源减少的时代非常重要。