#biowaste

Bioplastic Generation Using Urban Biowaste

In a circular economy, city waste being turned into resources is of great importance, especially considering more than 70% of the inhabitants in Europe live in urban areas and produce a great amount of biowaste coming from the treatment of their waste waters. The European project RES URBIS (Resources from Urban Bio-waste), showed that different biowaste produced in an urban environment can be treated within the same chain of valorization and can obtain products with biological origins, such as bioplastic, with a higher economic value to the classic compost and biogas. The project confirmed the technical and economic viability of this process.

The experimental part of the project was carried out in two pilot plants, located in Lisbon (Portugal) and Treviso (Italy), and in five laboratories –one of them in the Faculty of Chemistry of the UB. It produced a total of 30 kg of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), the basic polymer to create bioplastic with volatile fatty acids from waste decomposition. This PHA was obtained through three new extraction methods carried out within the project, and later, processed by the industrial entities of the consortium to obtain commercial-use bioplastic.

“The results of the project were very positive. We obtained film samples of bioplastic to use them as an interlayer with adjacent film, with a great commercial potential. These bioplastics can be used as long-lasting goods and biocomposites with fibers produced with waste from parks and gardens,” says Joan Mata, professor from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, who leads the participation of the University of Barcelona in the project. “Also –he adds-, the conducted analysis show that the legislation states.”

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Co-founders of Green COP (left to right): Sng Yee Ching, Low Wang Chang, and Hanson Lee, stand alongside their angel investors (left to right), Teo Teng Seng, appointed as Chairman, and Desmond Chong, representing Ken Energy Pte. Ltd., holding the signed agreement, Green COP, a Singapore-headquartered deep-tech start-up in sustainable fuel solutions, successfully garnered substantial funding…

Excerpt from this story from the Wall Street Journal:

In the middle of a Ukrainian cornfield, one business is making energy out of something this country has in abundance: Farm waste.

At the site north of Kyiv, local agricultural company Gals Agro is capturing gas from decomposing animal dung, straw and corn husks to produce a type of bioenergy called biomethane. The fuel is then pumped directly into Ukraine’s gas grid, replacing natural gas in tens of thousands of homes.

The project is at the forefront of Ukraine’s ambition to capitalize on waste from its giant agricultural industry to generate green power that will help it secure energy supplies away from Russia, foster closer ties with Europe and diversify its war-battered economy.

Earlier this year, Ukraine agreed to a strategic partnership with the European Union to promote the production and use of biomethane. By 2040, energy generated from the country’s farm waste could provide one-third of prewar domestic gas consumption while also becoming a major supplier to the EU, according to the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine. 

“There is unlimited potential for biogas in this country,” said Serhii Kravchuk, Gals Agro’s co-founder and chief executive. “This war shows that Ukraine needs more plants if it wants to diversify its energy supply and economy.”

Still, Ukraine’s bioenergy ambitions face obstacles. Companies say investors have been reluctant to fund projects during the war that has seen Russia attack the country’s energy infrastructure.

But Ukraine’s efforts could serve as a test case for the speedy and widespread adoption of biogas, which has gained attention as the world looks for greener fuels. Energy giants including 

BP and Shell have recently made acquisitions in the area, while the U.S. and other countries have offered subsidies for bioenergy.

Workshop at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester

Two drawings by Teresa Wilson, bio-waste made from coffee grounds and other food waste made into bio-plastic.

I joined an interesting workshop led by artist and designer Rachael Colley last month. The workshop group discussed the plasticity of materials and tried out some unusual materials made from waste food.

'We must change how we design, use, and reuse plastics. we cannot simply recycle or reduce our way out of the plastic pollution crisis. If we don't act now, by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.'

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Mini experimental sculptures made by the group.

The workshop group