I-Corps: Siloxane control in landfill gas using waste tire rubber particles

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是为废旧轮胎创造一个新的再利用选择，同时提供一种经济的解决方案，在燃烧发电之前去除垃圾填埋气中的硅氧烷。这项处理垃圾填埋气/沼气以去除硅氧烷的新技术使用了最小粒度的废轮胎橡胶颗粒作为吸附介质。这项技术的创新将使垃圾填埋气发电更可持续，在经济上更具吸引力。此外，废旧轮胎新回收市场的发展将减轻美国各地轮胎处理的负担。通过为硅氧烷控制提供经济的解决方案，并为废旧轮胎创造回收选择，垃圾填埋场附近社区的福祉将有可能得到改善。这个i-Corps项目将通过消除垃圾填埋气使用的主要障碍之一，帮助推动垃圾填埋气发电。将垃圾填埋气用作可再生能源的一个主要挑战来自微量污染物，即被称为硅氧烷的含有二氧化硅的化合物，它们被转化为二氧化硅，这是一种类似玻璃的物质，会降低发动机效率，减少热量，增加冲刷和磨损，并加速设备的损坏。这一创新是利用废轮胎橡胶颗粒开发了一种新的硅氧烷吸附工艺。采用这种方法，将可减少垃圾填埋气对发电厂造成的硅氧烷滋扰。目前，从废旧轮胎中回收橡胶材料的选择有限。利用最小尺寸的废旧轮胎橡胶颗粒开发有效的吸附过程代表着一个令人兴奋的创业机会，可以将这种废旧产品转化为可与活性碳吸附竞争硅氧烷控制的市场吸附剂。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to create a new re-use option for waste tires and, at the same time, provide an economical solution to remove siloxanes in landfill gas prior to combustion for electricity generation. This novel technology for the treatment of landfill gas/biogas to remove siloxanes uses the smallest size fraction of waste tire rubber particles as the adsorption media. The innovation of this technology will make electricity generation from landfill gas more sustainable and more attractive economically. In addition, the development of a new reuse market for waste tires will reduce the burden of tire disposal across the U.S. By providing an economical solution for siloxane control as well as creating a reuse option for waste tires, the well-being of communities near landfills will potentially be improved.This I-Corps project will help to propel electricity generation from landfill gas by removing one of the major obstacles to its use. A major challenge to the use of landfill gas as a renewable energy source comes from trace contaminants, namely 'silica containing compounds' called siloxanes which are converted to silicon dioxide, a glass like substance that reduces engine efficiency, reduces heat transfer, increases scour and abrasion, and accelerates equipment deterioration. This innovation is the development of a new siloxane adsorption process using waste tire rubber particles. Using this approach, the siloxane nuisance in landfill gas to electricity plants will be mitigated. Currently, there are limited options for the reuse of the rubber material from waste tires. The development of an effective adsorption process using the smallest size fraction of waste tire rubber particles represents an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity to turn this waste product into a marketable adsorbent that can compete with activated carbon adsorption for siloxane control.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.