A method of microwave processing of waste for the purpose of obtaining biofuel is presented
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Scientists from the UK led by Professor James Clark (University of York) presented a new method of microwave treatment of bio-waste to extract valuable biologically active substances and biofuels.
This method can be used both in large-scale industrial and domestic conditions. Researchers hope that with its help it will be possible to reduce the amount of chemical industry waste.
The main sources of organic waste on a global scale are: the food industry, agriculture and billions of consumers.
For example, the cultivation of tropical fruits of cassava and cassava in Africa provides 228 million tons of unused starch, and the cultivation of coffee beans in Ethiopia - 3 million tons of husks a year.
The production of orange juice in Brazil uses only half of the fruit, and the rest goes to the dregs. The amount of peel from oranges is 8 million tons per year.
Orange Peel Exploitation Company began using the method proposed by York scientists to produce biofuels and valuable biologically active substances from their orange peels.
The essence of the method is to crush the orange peel and place it in a microwave field of high power, resulting in the release of a large number of valuable chemicals.
For example, limonin, which is released during this treatment, is widely used in the perfume industry. Many chemical products can be used in the production of fuel.
Researchers hope that in the near future this technology will be successfully used for industrial processing of many organic products. The cost of such an installation will be about 1 million pounds, and productivity - 6 tons of waste per hour.