Overview of Solid Waste and Residue Generation, Disposition, and Conversion Technologies

Abstract

An overview of solid waste and residue generation, disposition, and conversion technologies showed that there are currently over 500 million tons (dry basis) of organic wastes and residues generated yearly in the US, which represents a potential energy resource of more than 5 x 10/sup 15/Btu. These materials vary greatly in moisture content and other physical and chemical properties which, along with the cost to deliver the material to the conversion reactor, greatly influence the value of the individual feedstocks for conversion processes. The conversion process options include combustion processes for steam or electric power production, advanced thermal processes for the production of gaseous or liquid fuels, and biochemical conversion processes for the production of methane gas or alcohol. The various conversion processes were discussed.