Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a Cellulosic Feedstock: Opportunities and Challenges David Bransby...

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a Cellulosic Feedstock:

Opportunities and Challenges

David BransbyProfessor, Energy Crops and Bioenergy

Auburn Universitybransdi@auburn.edu

ABFC, New Orleans, June 10, 2015

MSW Is the lowest hanging fruit and the most overlooked opportunity in the field of

cellulosic feedstocks

MSW is the Ultra-low hanging Fruit!

MSW not even mentioned

MSW not even mentioned

Three most important traits for the ideal cellulosic feedstock?

1) COST!2) COST!3) COST!

Three most important criteria for the ideal cellulosic feedstock?

1) Cost2) Availability3) Composition/quality

1) CostAssume technology can yield 70 gallons of biofuel/dry ton of biomass, and wholesale price is $2.00/gal:

Feedstock cost

/dry ton

Feedstock cost /gallon

% of Wholesale

Price

$0 $0.00 0

$25 $0.36 18%

$50 $0.71 36%

$75 $1.o7 54%

$100 $1.43 71%

Tipping FeesRange from $20 to over $100/tonDepending on processing cost and business

arrangement with MSW processor (licensing or purchasing processed material), cost of feedstock could be zero or negative

CleanTech Biofuels (www.cleantechbiofuels.net) in St. Louis, MO, uses autoclave technology to separate and sterilize MSW for ~$35/ton

The technology has been in commercial operation in Australia for 6 years

Therefore, risk is virtually zero

CleanTech Biofuels’ Solution

Biomass OutGarbage InAutoclave Steam & Low Pressure

MSW Processing Cellulosic Fraction

PlasticsMetals

No Odor!Odor

$$$ Metals Plastics $$$

CleanTech Biofuels

CleanTech Biofuels

CleanTech Biofuels Autoclave TechnologyCommercial Plant, Coffs Harbour, Australia

CleanTech Biofuels Autoclave TechnologyCommercial Plant, Coffs Harbour, Australia

CleanTech Biofuels Autoclave TechnologyCommercial Plant, Coffs Harbour, Australia

CleanTech Biofuels Autoclave TechnologyCommercial Plant, Coffs Harbour, Australia

CleanTech Biofuels Autoclave TechnologyCommercial Plant, Coffs Harbour, Australia

Tipping FeesAcquiring the tipping fee can be a

challenge, but is critical to ensure economic viability

Tipping fees are currently being paid to entities, including large companies, that are making profits from the landfill paradigm

However, opportunities to obtain tipping fees do exist

Impact of Cost

Feedstock cost/dry ton

Feedstock cost

/gallon

% of Wholesale

Price

MSW: $0.oo $0.00 0%

Crop Residues: $30?

$0.43 22%

Wood: $60 $0.86 43%

Energy crops: $75+

$1.o7+ 54+%

Assume technology can yield 70 gallons of biofuel/dry ton of biomass, and wholesale price is $2.00/gal:

Availability of MSW

What does availability mean?What’s out there is irrelevantYear-round, site specific availability in needed quantities is what’s important

Nothing beats MSW!

Availability of MSWThere are hundreds of landfills that

receive over 1,000 tons of MSW daily

This amounts to 500+ tons/day of cellulosic feedstock

Adequate for most commercial size processing facilities

Availability of MSWIt’s in close proximity to most urban areas

Collection systems are already in place

It is generated constantly, so storage is not necessary

Particular Opportunity for Florida

The Okeechobee Landfill is the fifth largest landfill in the United States,receiving over 7,000 tons of garbage per day, and 2.6 million tons per year

Composition of MSWAbout 50% cellulosicGood for both biological and

thermochemical conversion processes

Low lignin, so high conversion rates for biological processes

Contaminants can be removed by autoclave technology

Composition of MSWPaper 33.9%Yard trimmings 12.9%Food scraps 12.4%Plastics 11.8%Metals 7.6%Rubber, textiles 7.3%Wood 5.5%Glass 5.3%Other 3.3%

SummaryMSW is the best near and long term

opportunity – ultra-low hanging fruitCleanTech Biofuels (

www.cleantechbiofuels.net) has commercially proven technology for separating and sterilizing MSW

Collection infrastructure already in place

SummaryNo land use or food vs fuel issues involvedLow lignin, so good for biological

conversion processesEconomical with no government subsidiesUse for energy reduces environmental

problems related to landfills and incineration

MSW is the Ultra-low Hanging Fruit!