THE INVESTIGATION OF CONVERTION TO PRODUCTS LIKE FOSSIL FUELS, BIOGAS AND SUBSTANCE SOLUBLE IN WATER OF SOME BIOMASS WASTES

9th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2009, www.sgem.org, SGEM2009 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 14-19, 2009, Vol. 2, 413-420 pp

ABSTRACT

Biomass resources include wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and their waste by
products, municipal solid waste, animal wastes, waste from food processing. Especially
organic waste, dumped in open places causes heavy environmental pollution to soil,
groundwater and surface waters as the amount of the waste generated is growing very
fast. However, energy from biomass may significantly contribute to the growing future
demand for energy. Energy from biomass avoids the net increase of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere and would help to fulfil the obligations of the European Union to reduce
carbon dioxide release.

Biomass is the world’s fourth largest energy source worldwide, following coal, oil and
natural gas. Theoretically, biomass has the capacity to provide 100 % of the world’s
energy demand.

In this study presents numerous processes of conversion of biomass for energy, i.e.
thermochemical conversion (e.g. liquefaction) and biochemical conversion (e.g.
digestion and fermentation)

The conversion of orange peel (OP), hazelnut shell (HS), tea factory product wastes
(TFPW), prickly pear cactus leaf (PPCL), peanut shell (PS) and market wastes (MW)
into liquid and/or gaseous fuel by liquefaction process and the conversion of some
potential organic waste matter [cow manure (CM), municipal organic solid waste
components [market waste(MW) and treatment sludge (TS)] into to biogas and
substance soluble in water have been investigated in the laboratory.

Percentage and higher heating values of liquid products were founded between 14,32-
25,67 % and 30,50-48,10 MJ/kg in the result of liquefaction process respectively. On
the other hand, from the results it was found that the maximum water solubility, amount
of maximum biogas yield and maximum methane content of biogas were (83,2 % (by
mass) 36,20 mL biogas/1gdry original cow manure and 52,40 % (by volume ), (47,35 %
(by mass), 33,34 mL biogas/1g original solid market wastes and 53,30 % (by volume)
and (17,48% (by mass), 2,64 mL biogas/1g original treatment sludge and 46,80 % (by
volume).

According to results, it was found that petroleum-like liquid products can be obtained
from these wastes by selecting suitable liquefaction conditions and these organic wastes
were used for biogas production efficiently after converting into water soluble
substances.

Keywords: Biomass wastes, fosil fuels, biogas, substance soluble in water, liquefaction