Applied Bioenergy and Biowaste Utilization

在未来可能引入氢经济之前，以生物能源为基础的经济似乎最适合补充当前以化石燃料为基础的能源系统。该项目提出了一种综合方法，将生物垃圾作为可再生能源转化为生物柴油和合成气。超临界水（SCW）环境将显著改善能量平衡，因为它消除了干燥的需要（维持超临界水仅需总能量的12%）。我们对生物垃圾很感兴趣，因为它是一种简单的清洁储存的太阳能。以前的大多数SCW研究使用纯化合物或模型化合物（例如纤维素）来推断生物量行为。我们选择了两种真正的生物废物：(1)甲虫出没的山松，(2)农业残留物的混合物。它们在加拿大有大量商业供应。一个新的概念将应用于生物废物的原位水热利用，而SCW燃烧将在一个独特的同步加速器设置进行研究。这种新颖的实验安排将首次允许同时观察SCW燃烧过程中形成的物种的行为和测量。将获得揭示详细工艺和产品特性的新数据。这种创新的方法是基于同步脱氢、水解和氧化的一步过程。因此，它有望比传统的生物垃圾燃烧更便宜。众所周知，生物能源有助于减少对环境的有害影响。为了成为一种成功的能源管理选择，它必须在不造成生态风险的情况下以成本效益和节能的方式完成。这正是我们的项目所要提供的。

The bioenergy-based economy seems most suitable to complement the current fossil fuel-based energy systems prior to potential introduction of the hydrogen economy in the future. This project proposes a comprehensive approach in which biowaste, as a renewable energy source, is converted to biodiesel and synthetic gas. The supercritical water (SCW) environment will improve significantly the energy balance by eliminating the need for drying (sustaining SCW requires only 12% of the total energy produced).We are interested in biowaste because it is simply clean stored solar energy. The majority of previous SCW studies used either pure or model compounds (e.g., cellulose) to extrapolate biomass behavior. We selected two types of real biowaste: (1) a beetle-infested mountain pine, and (2) a mixture of agricultural residues. They are available in Canada in commercial quantities. A novel concept will be applied for the in situ hydrothermal utilization of biowaste, while SCW combustion will be studied in a unique synchrotron setting. This novel experimental arrangement will allow, for the first time, for simultaneous observation of the behavior and measurement of species formed in the SCW combustion process. New data will be obtained revealing detailed process and product characteristics. This innovative approach is based on a one-step process involving synchronized dehydrogenation, hydrolysis and oxidation. Hence, it is expected to be less expensive than traditional biowaste combustion. It is known that bioenergy may help reduce detrimental environmental impacts. In order to be a successful energy management option, it must be accomplished in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner without creating ecological risks. This is precisely what our project has to offer.