Waste to Fuels – Projects

Washington State Department of Agriculture – Appendix A

Washington State University in partnership with the Washington State Department of Agriculture conducted targeted applied research and extension related to anaerobic digestion and other energy conversion technologies for dairy, animal and organic waste during the 2011–2013 biennium. Research and extension activities were designed to address the present and future technical needs of our dairies, emerging clean technology industries, and rural communities.

While specific research and extension tasks change with each biennium, several themes continue through the project and are identified in seven broad categories. This biennium we are active in four broad areas:

  • Technologies for integrated anaerobic digestion bio-refineries
  • Anaerobic digestion on small dairies
  • Bio-products derived from anaerobic digestion systems
  • Extension and support for transfer of anaerobic digestion technologies

The 2013-2015 biennium report is available HERE.

Washington State Department of Ecology – Waste to Fuels Technology

The Washington Department of Ecology’s Waste to Fuels Technology (WTFT) program has strategically invested in CSANR to support research that will facilitate the commercialization of a number of second-generation organics processing technologies that can be integrated with aerobic composting by our regional organics recycling industry, including anaerobic digestion, nutrient recovery, and pyrolysis.

The applied research and extension projects carried out over the last two years were selected to address specific barriers to commercial viability that exist with these emerging technologies, as well as to provide ongoing extension and technological support to the next generation organics industry in Washington State. Specific projects change each biennium, but current projects include:

  • Development of concepts to integrate thermal processing into composting and other current waste treatment facilities
  • Investigations to further the role of biologically-based treatments (e.g. anaerobic digestion, fermentation) for food and green waste resources
  • Extension and outreach to the organics management industry

The last biennium report is available HERE.

Anaerobic Digestion Systems

United State Department of Agriculture: National Institute of Food and Agriculture – AD Systems (funder website)

This project aims to quantify the climate, air, water, nutrient and economic impacts of integrating emerging, next-generation technologies within anaerobic digestion systems on U.S. dairies: nutrient recovery, pyrolysis, and water recovery. Existing evidence suggests that addressing nutrient concerns and improving project returns on investment could enhance anaerobic digestion adoption rates in the U.S., as well as generate additional environmental benefits. This project builds on technologies that are being developed by the project team through leveraged research. Enhancement of pyrolysis through modification of biochar for nutrient recovery is being investigated, and all AD-derived fertilizers are being evaluated at the greenhouse scale. Analysis of various levels of technology incorporation and farm scenarios is being used to determine direct and upstream/downstream impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient and energy flows, project economics, and crop yields.

Project objectives include:

  1. Enhancement of pyrolysis through modification of biochar for nutrient recovery, with exploration of N, P, and H2S capture
  2. Agronomic evaluation at greenhouse scale of AD-derived fertilizers: surface-modified biochar, organic P-enriched solids, ammonium sulfate solution, and struvite crystals
  3. Modeling of GHG emissions, nutrient flows, and crop yields of various adoption scenarios for AD systems technologies
  4. Techno-economic analysis of adoption scenarios for AD systems technologies
  5. Extension of research to key stakeholders positioned to facilitate adoption of AD systems (e.g. industry, regulatory agencies, and private carbon market entities)

Please click Anaerobic Digestion Systems to see the new resources developed through this project.