BioCycle June 2012, Vol. 53, No. 6, p. 55
On-Site Ad System
U.K. based SEaB Energy is promoting its MuckBuster and MB400 anaerobic digestion systems for more remote locations in rural settings. Potential customers include wineries, food processing facilities, universities and office parks located far from waste disposal or processing capacity. The SEaB remote systems can also accept animal manure and septic waste. A typical CHP installation capable of converting biogas to electricity costs about $450,000 and can process 2 to 2.5 tons of food waste daily. http://seabenergy.com
Drop-In Fuels From Biomass
Community Power Corporation (CPC) in Littleton, Colorado, is producing “drop-in” diesel and aviation fuels from wood chips and other waste biomass utilizing an enhanced Fischer-Tropsch process, a collection of chemical reactions that converts a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. CPC’s LiquiMax system converts nitrogen-diluted syngas produced by its BioMax biomass processing system into liquid fuel. “What separates our gas-to-liquid fuels system from other companies in the industry is the inexpensive, proprietary catalysts that are used to enhance the Fischer-Tropsch process, as well as other refinery processes,” says CPC Project Manager Steve Sherwood. www.goCPC.com
Biogas “Enginator”
Two 1 MW Waukesha gas engines have been sold to the Forest County Potawatomi Community’s planned biogas combined heat and power (CHP) project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Menomonee Valley. The project will convert waste from area food processing plants into energy for the tribal community and the local power grid. Parent company GE Energy delivered the Waukesha APG1000 Enginator biogas engines in mid April. The Waukesha plant employs 680 people, including 385 production workers. www.dresserwaukesha.com
Safety Backup Cameras
RMT Track-Vision heavy equipment backup camera
RMT’s Track-Vision heavy equipment backup cameras reduce operator blind spots and protect against serious injury. The camera may also be used for precision work, such as affixing it to the dipper stick of an excavator to better view the digging area when visibility is difficult. An optional digital recording system captures up to 72 hours of video. www.rmtequip.com
Recyclable Produce Boxes
Paraffin-coated cardboard produce boxes present challenges for recyclers. While the boxes can be composted, they cannot be recycled like traditional corrugated. A project piloting recyclable produce boxes at Community Market’s flagship store in Santa Cruz, California, may provide a solution. Green Bay Packaging and Interstate Container Fibre Box Association, working with Global Green USA Coalition for Resource Recovery (CoRR), supplied certified-recyclable paraffin-coated boxes to the market. “We want to give farmers a cost-neutral recyclable box that lets them bring added value to retailers,” says Interstate Container’s Jeff Cormier. “Most importantly, the boxes must have the strength needed to protect the produce.” http://thecorr.org
Waste Tracking Module
The new ChefTec Waste Tracking Module (WTM) from Culinary Software Services allows for accurate tracking and analysis of waste in any food service operation. The WTM enhances automatic ordering capabilities to prevent over-purchasing and related spoilage, helps pinpoint where and why waste is occurring and tracks costs associated with the waste product as well as different methods of disposal. “Studies have shown that tracking and analysis of waste in an operation can reduce waste by up to 90 percent,” says WTM Operations Manager Catherine Buresh. www.culinarysoftware.com
Feedstock Analyses
Ottawa, Ontario-based CH-Four Biogas, Inc. has developed a computer-based model that simulates feedstock performance in the anaerobic digestion process, matching laboratory result predictions for biogas quality and quantity, pH levels, acids and ammonia inhibitions. Users of the service may either have sample feedstocks tested for around a dozen properties and constituents that include BOD, total VOCs, ammonia, pH and percentage of carbohydrates or may have inputs evaluated based upon submission of and literature values for general feedstock types. “There is a lot of data out there on slaughterhouse waste, green bin recycling waste, etc.,” says Claire Allen of CH4. “If it’s a food manufacturer, it’s better if we are getting data directly from them. But if it’s grease trap waste or tomato waste or some things that are more typical, plenty of data is available.” www.chfour.ca
