I-Corps: Commercialization Feasibility Research and Demonstration Preparation for Production of Bio-adhesive from Animal Waste

这个I-Corps项目将探索从猪粪中生产生物粘合剂的商业可行性。如果成功，这项技术将产生生物粘合剂产品，可以作为石油基粘合剂产品的替代品，并成为从动物粪便中提取的新型生物基产品的前体。I-Corps项目将实现的概念验证演示是使用模块化过滤-真空蒸馏原型装置从猪粪中生产具有特定粘度的生物粘合剂。该项目的成功实施将把通过先前的NSF资助创造的知识转化为新产品。这项技术的成功商业化将使美国每年生产的4020万吨猪粪可用于提供约2800万吨生物粘合剂，用于工业地毯、包装、土壤稳定、裂缝密封、屋顶、路面施工和肥料涂层。因此，这一概念验证的任务是将该技术平台的快速、可扩展、经济高效的生物粘合剂生产能力带到研究实验室之外，更接近市场。该项目提供了一种独特的、同步的方法：1)开发可持续建筑胶粘剂作为商业产品；2)将粪便中的碳隔离到生物胶粘剂中；3)解决与粪便管理相关的问题，同时为农民创造收入来源；4)创造与生物胶粘剂生产和应用相关的新就业机会。目前，安全处理大量粪便的能力限制了养猪场的发展。从猪粪中开发生物粘合剂将为猪粪管理提供解决方案，同时提供可再生的建筑材料。因此，这项技术可以在农业和建筑部门产生重大的、积极的环境和经济影响。

This I-Corps project will explore the commercial feasibility of production of bio-adhesive from swine manure. If successful, this technology will lead to bio-adhesive products that can act as substitutes for petroleum-based adhesive products, and be precursors for novel bio-based products from animal waste. The proof-of-concept demonstration to be achieved by this I-Corps project is the production of bio-adhesive with specified viscosity from swine manure using a modular filtration-vacuum distillation prototype unit. Successful implementation of the project will translate the knowledge created through a prior NSF funding into new products. Successful commercialization of this technology will allow 40.2 million tons of swine manure produced annually in the U.S. to be used to supply about 28 million tons of bio-adhesive for industrial carpeting, packaging, soil stabilization, crack sealing, roofing, pavement construction and fertilizer coating applications. Therefore, the mission of this proof-of-concept is to bring the rapid, scalable, and cost-efficient bio-adhesive production capabilities of the technology platform outside of the research lab and closer to the market.This project offers a unique, simultaneous approach to 1) develop sustainable construction adhesives as a commercial product, 2) sequester carbon from manure into bio-adhesive, 3) address problems associated with manure management while creating a source of revenue for farmers, and 4) create new jobs related to the production and application of bio-adhesive. Currently, the ability to safely dispose of large amounts of manure limits the growth of swine farms. Development of bio-adhesive from manure will offer a solution for swine manure management while providing a renewable construction material. Therefore, this technology can result in major, positive environmental and economic impacts in both the agricultural and construction sectors.