Agricultural and Organics waste to Value Added Bioproducts

将农业废弃物转化为化学、材料、燃料和能源应用的增值生物产品，创造了促进创新、创造新的就业机会和提高加拿大在全球市场上的竞争力的机会。加拿大人均生物质资源比其他任何国家都多，在其发展方面具有独特的优势。然而，这需要不断创新才能成为该领域的领跑者。我提出的研究是为了满足上述目标。该提案分为两部分：一是研究水热处理后活化生产活性炭纤维，二是研究合成气发酵生产生物塑料，每一部分都有助于从农业和有机废物中获得生物产品，从而取代石油基产品，减少温室气体排放。为了从农业废弃物中生产活性炭纤维，重点将是了解水热和活化过程的基本原理。与所提出的工艺相关的一些问题是：去除生物质中的无机含量，设计不同原料的系统，将原料送入高压反应器以及自动热操作的能量集成。我们将对水热炭化活化过程进行实验和动力学研究，考察温度、压力、停留时间和介质的影响。动力学将被用来开发一个新的连续系统。为了优化，将对连续系统进行进一步的研究。该提案的第二部分侧重于利用食品加工业的有机废物生产合成气，并对合成气进行发酵以生产生物塑料。了解有机废物流在超临界气化条件下的气化，利用氧化钙捕获二氧化碳的影响及其对吸附剂性能的影响，开发发酵过程中合成气与底物之间高效传质的体系将是本研究的重点。早期的研究表明，细菌在发酵条件下的生长和有效的传质可能是瓶颈。实验研究将有助于理解这些现象。通过中空纤维膜进行气体分散是一种有效的传质方法。除传质外，碳源成本也会影响该工艺的商业化。研究中提出的废物流的使用可能会解决成本问题。每一个分项目都将有助于培训高素质的人员。

The transformation of agricultural waste to value added bioproducts for chemical, material, fuel and energy application creates an opportunity that fosters innovation, creates new jobs and increase competitiveness of Canada in global market. Canada, with more biomass resource per capita than any other country, offers a unique advantage to be a global leader in its development. This however requires continues innovation to be a frontrunner in the field. My proposed research is developed to meets above goals. The proposal is divided into two part: one to study the hydrothermal processing followed by activation for producing activated carbon fiber and another on syngas fermentation for producing bioplastics, each of which contribute towards bioproducts from agricultural and organic waste, thereby substituting petroleum based products and reducing greenhouse gas emission. For producing activated carbon fiber from agricultural waste, the focus will be on understanding the fundamental of hydrothermal and activation process. Some of the issues related to the proposed processes are: removal of inorganic content in biomass, designing system for different kind of feedstock, feeding feedstock into high-pressure reactor and energy integration for auto thermal operation. We will undertake an experimental and kinetic study of hydrothermal carbonization and activation process, examining the effect of temperature, pressure, residence time and medium. The kinetics would be then used to develop a novel continuous system. Further investigation into the continuous system will be done for optimization. The second part of the proposal focuses on utilizing the organic waste from the food processing industry for producing syngas and fermenting the syngas to produce bioplastics. Understanding the gasification of organic waste stream under super-critical gasification, effect of using calcium oxide for carbon dioxide capture and its effect on sorbent properties, developing system with efficient mass transfer between syngas and substrate during fermentation will be the focus of this study. Earlier work indicated that bacteria growth under fermentation condition and efficient mass transfer could be the bottlenecks. Experimental investigation would help to understand these phenomenons. Gas dispersion through hollow fiber membrane is proposed for efficient mass transfer. Besides mass transfer, cost of carbon source could effect the commercialization of the process. The use of waste stream as proposed in the research might address the cost issues. Each of the sub-projects will contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel.