The Thermo-Depolymerization Process (TDP) is a newly developing technology currently being pursued by Changing World Technologies in cooperation with ConAgra Foods who are the makers of several varieties of pre-packaged foods. According to livescience.com this new advancement could be one of the top new emerging technologies to date. This technology has the ability to greatly improve the quality of the environment if implemented, and it is an excellent attempt and environmental planning for sustainability. The concept behind the technology is the idea that biological waste can be successfully converted into water, minerals, natural gas, and even fuel oil. There have been numerous previous attempts to convert waste into energy, but none have been successful. This is due to on simple factor: water. It takes so much energy to remove the water from waste that the energy recovered is not significant when compared to the energy required to remove the water. TDP, on the other hand, is 85 percent energy efficient because of the utilization of water.
The process begins by grinding a waste product into small pieces. The pieces of ground waste are placed into a reactor which acts as a large pressure cooker. More water is added then heat and pressure are applied. The combination of 500 degree heat and 600 PSI pressure begins to break polymers into simpler molecules. The addition of water is significant because it is so efficient for the generation of pressure and transfer of heat. The high heat and pressure are also successful at killing any harmful organisms found in the waste. Studies have shown that the process will even successfully kill spongiform enchephilitis, better known as mad cow disease. Therefore the use of waste products does not pose much threat to human health. After the waste has “cooked” it is moved to a decompression chamber where the 500 degree water boils very rapidly since it is at average pressure again. The steam produced is reused to heat the following batch of waste. The waste product is then transferred to another oven where it is to undergo traditional oil refining techniques. The material begins to separate at high temperatures. Natural gas can be taken off the top and reused to heat reaction chambers. Light oils, heavy oils, and water are found in the middle, and graphite is found in the bottom.
The process begins by grinding a waste product into small pieces. The pieces of ground waste are placed into a reactor which acts as a large pressure cooker. More water is added then heat and pressure are applied. The combination of 500 degree heat and 600 PSI pressure begins to break polymers into simpler molecules. The addition of water is significant because it is so efficient for the generation of pressure and transfer of heat. The high heat and pressure are also successful at killing any harmful organisms found in the waste. Studies have shown that the process will even successfully kill spongiform enchephilitis, better known as mad cow disease. Therefore the use of waste products does not pose much threat to human health. After the waste has “cooked” it is moved to a decompression chamber where the 500 degree water boils very rapidly since it is at average pressure again. The steam produced is reused to heat the following batch of waste. The waste product is then transferred to another oven where it is to undergo traditional oil refining techniques. The material begins to separate at high temperatures. Natural gas can be taken off the top and reused to heat reaction chambers. Light oils, heavy oils, and water are found in the middle, and graphite is found in the bottom.
Many people are skeptical that the technology is “real” and actually works as well as the researchers claim it does. Others see potential difficulties implementing the new technology due to opposition from the big oil industry or environmentalists. Also, funding this new technology is an issue that some are concerned about. However, TDP technology has been proven to be 85 percent efficient, capable of recycling a wide variety of waste materials, and has support from big oil and environmentalists.
The overall TDP process has been proven to operate 85 percent efficiently in a proof-of-concept plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ConAgra also constructed a production plant across from its Butterball Turkey processing plant in Carhthage, Missouri. This plant processes over 200 tons of turkey waste daily. This is extremely efficient environmental planning because it utilizes waste and creates new useful products from a waste product that normally could not be used.
The TDP process is most efficient through the careful reuse of water and natural gas during depolymerization. The proof- of -concept plant was used by Changing World Technologies to develop a list of statistics. The statistics provide information for what comes out for each 100 pounds of waste processed. There are statistics for numerous materials ranging from plastic bottles and tires to municipal sewage and medical waste.
Surprisingly, the oil industry is supportive of this new technology and is providing millions of dollars in funding for research and development. The support is due to the ability to use TDP technology to take wastes such as tar sands, motor oil, grease, etc. and produce more oil. This could be the solution to the problem of peak oil. Also, environmentalists tend to have no major drawbacks with the process. In fact, it is such a clean process that the EPA does not even consider the plants to be waste handlers. They categorize them as production instead.
In conclusion, the TDP technology is one that should be strongly considered for future environmental planning due to its cleanliness and efficiency. It is a resourceful way to become more sustainable through utilizing a wide variety of waste products. It is also potentially valuable due to the ability to produce fuel oil from waste products. This will be helpful to address the problem of depleting oil resources. The oil industry should even consider doing some benefit-cost analysis to compare the use of TDP technology to the proposed drilling of the Alaskan oil reserves. This new process could potentially be less costly and more environmentally friendly. Also, since it is a clean and efficient process it should not face much opposition from the environmental movement. Since this technology has been implemented, Changing World Technologies has been widely recognized and even accepted a patent award from Long Island Technology Hall of Fame. This technology has the potential to be the world’s energy crisis solution.
The overall TDP process has been proven to operate 85 percent efficiently in a proof-of-concept plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ConAgra also constructed a production plant across from its Butterball Turkey processing plant in Carhthage, Missouri. This plant processes over 200 tons of turkey waste daily. This is extremely efficient environmental planning because it utilizes waste and creates new useful products from a waste product that normally could not be used.
The TDP process is most efficient through the careful reuse of water and natural gas during depolymerization. The proof- of -concept plant was used by Changing World Technologies to develop a list of statistics. The statistics provide information for what comes out for each 100 pounds of waste processed. There are statistics for numerous materials ranging from plastic bottles and tires to municipal sewage and medical waste.
Surprisingly, the oil industry is supportive of this new technology and is providing millions of dollars in funding for research and development. The support is due to the ability to use TDP technology to take wastes such as tar sands, motor oil, grease, etc. and produce more oil. This could be the solution to the problem of peak oil. Also, environmentalists tend to have no major drawbacks with the process. In fact, it is such a clean process that the EPA does not even consider the plants to be waste handlers. They categorize them as production instead.
In conclusion, the TDP technology is one that should be strongly considered for future environmental planning due to its cleanliness and efficiency. It is a resourceful way to become more sustainable through utilizing a wide variety of waste products. It is also potentially valuable due to the ability to produce fuel oil from waste products. This will be helpful to address the problem of depleting oil resources. The oil industry should even consider doing some benefit-cost analysis to compare the use of TDP technology to the proposed drilling of the Alaskan oil reserves. This new process could potentially be less costly and more environmentally friendly. Also, since it is a clean and efficient process it should not face much opposition from the environmental movement. Since this technology has been implemented, Changing World Technologies has been widely recognized and even accepted a patent award from Long Island Technology Hall of Fame. This technology has the potential to be the world’s energy crisis solution.
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