Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of British Columbia
$176,040.00
Assessment of biosolids-to-energy options for the Okanagan Valley: a multi-criteria decision-making approach
EF 2010-11
Résumé
An international, multi-disciplinary team has been assembled to develop a novel life cycle assessment (LCA) based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to compare and select a municipal biosolids disposal option that will minimize the environmental emissions while maximizing the energy (methane) recovery with reasonable costs. The technology and the decision making tool to be developed will allow more efficient conversion of municipal biosolids to methane, a renewable, alternative clean fuel. The community of Kelowna (Okanagan, BC) has been chosen to serve as test model; however the proposed approach will be general and applicable to other similar biosolids management optimization cases. Another novel aspect of this multi-disciplinary project will be initiating research that goes beyond the limitations of commercial single frequency (2.45 GHz) microwave equipment for biosolids pretreatment by testing a range of frequencies,
power, and employing pulse or modulated signals such that the overall methane recovery from biosolids can be maximized, while the volume of residuals are minimized.
The specific objectives include: (i) examine the anaerobic co-digestion efficiency (methane potential) of municipal biosolids with landfill leachate before and after thermal, ultrasonic and mechanical waste disintegration techniques; (ii) develop an LCA based multi-criteria (environmental, energy recovery, and cost) decision-making approach to compare different biosolids management strategies: landfilling, composting, anaerobic co-digestion; (iii) evaluate the benefits and feasibility of the anaerobic disposal options to produce biosolids in compliance with BC Organic Matter Recycling (OMR) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) fertilizer regulations for reuse in the Okanagan; (iv) communicate the results to other municipalities,
industries, and researchers. The outcomes from the proposed research will provide alternative treatment technologies to reduce potential future environmental liability with new options to improve infrastructure and operational practices for biosolids reuse in Canada.
Programme
Strategic Projects - Group
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
396519-2010
Name nom
Eskicioglu, Cigdem
Department département
Okanagan - Engineering, School of
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
176040
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1047
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Energy
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Énergie
Area of application code
902
Area of application group en
Commercial services
Area of application group fr
Services commerciaux
Area of application en
Waste, waste management and recycling
Area of application fr
Déchets, gestion des déchets et recyclage
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Environmental engineering
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Assessment of biosolids-to-energy options for the Okanagan Valley: a multi-criteria decision-making approach
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
An international, multi-disciplinary team has been assembled to develop a novel life cycle assessment (LCA) based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to compare and select a municipal biosolids disposal option that will minimize the environmental emissions while maximizing the energy (methane) recovery with reasonable costs. The technology and the decision making tool to be developed will allow more efficient conversion of municipal biosolids to methane, a renewable, alternative clean fuel. The community of Kelowna (Okanagan, BC) has been chosen to serve as test model; however the proposed approach will be general and applicable to other similar biosolids management optimization cases. Another novel aspect of this multi-disciplinary project will be initiating research that goes beyond the limitations of commercial single frequency (2.45 GHz) microwave equipment for biosolids pretreatment by testing a range of frequencies,
power, and employing pulse or modulated signals such that the overall methane recovery from biosolids can be maximized, while the volume of residuals are minimized.
The specific objectives include: (i) examine the anaerobic co-digestion efficiency (methane potential) of municipal biosolids with landfill leachate before and after thermal, ultrasonic and mechanical waste disintegration techniques; (ii) develop an LCA based multi-criteria (environmental, energy recovery, and cost) decision-making approach to compare different biosolids management strategies: landfilling, composting, anaerobic co-digestion; (iii) evaluate the benefits and feasibility of the anaerobic disposal options to produce biosolids in compliance with BC Organic Matter Recycling (OMR) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) fertilizer regulations for reuse in the Okanagan; (iv) communicate the results to other municipalities,
industries, and researchers. The outcomes from the proposed research will provide alternative treatment technologies to reduce potential future environmental liability with new options to improve infrastructure and operational practices for biosolids reuse in Canada.
