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

该I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是为废轮胎创造一种新的再利用选择，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。 这种处理垃圾填埋气/沼气以去除硅氧烷的新技术使用最小粒径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具可持续性和经济吸引力。 此外，新的废旧轮胎再利用市场的开发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，以及为废旧轮胎创造再利用选择，垃圾填埋场附近社区的福祉将有可能得到改善。这个I-Corps项目将有助于推动垃圾填埋气体发电，消除其使用的主要障碍之一。 使用填埋气作为可再生能源的主要挑战来自微量污染物，即称为硅氧烷的“含硅化合物”，其转化为二氧化硅，一种玻璃状物质，其降低发动机效率，减少传热，增加冲刷和磨损，并加速设备老化。 这项创新是利用废旧轮胎橡胶颗粒开发一种新的硅氧烷吸附工艺。 使用这种方法，将减轻填埋气体中的硅氧烷对发电厂的危害。目前，对于来自废轮胎的橡胶材料的再利用存在有限的选择。 利用最小尺寸的废轮胎橡胶颗粒开发有效的吸附工艺是一个令人兴奋的创业机会，可以将这种废物转化为可与活性炭吸附竞争的可销售的吸附剂，用于硅氧烷控制。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.