My name is Alessio Boldrin, and I'm a senior researcher at the DQ Environment. Today we are in the bio-energy lab, where we are conducting different types of research with respect to biofuel production, mostly from residual resource materials. The way we manage our solid waste has changed, always changing over time. We are moving away from waste systems, only focusing on waste disposal in order to prevent adverse health effects. We are moving to more cost effective systems. Where increasing amounts of available products are recovered from waste. Today, waste systems are dealing with the fact that the waste and waste related products are becoming constrained commodities which are traded on the market according to some sort of supply, demand, and mechanism. This development is due to different reasons of course. One of the reasons is the increase in the environmental warmness but also to changes in socioeconomic conditions of local and regional scales. But also to the growing pressure of the supply of material and energy resources. Modern waste facilities, waste plants are becoming more and more similar to industrial facilities meaning that, the focus is also shifting. Our main focus nowadays is on the quantity of waste materials being processed and the quantity of useful products being recovered. Another focus is on the quality of these products, because it is likely to determine the value of these products on the market. And this is normally often achieved by using upgrading processes on both the input and output of the processes. Another focus is also on the adaptation to the market needs, which means that concept and strategies are developed to allow more flexible production from waste facilities. But also to deliver products which can be stored and thereby used when needed in the market. This is all meant to increase and maximize the profitability of waste industries [NOISE] So in this context, waste plants and waste facilities are becoming more and more complex. Beside source separation of waste, we are seeing that waste facilities are developing towards multi step and multi process complexes. Examples of this are modern recycling plants, where a number of different mechanical and chemical processes are used to refine waste and recover pure and high secondary products like metals and plastics and paper and so on. But also to be able to recover compounds and material which are only found in trace contents. Another example could be modern waste-to-energy facilities. Trying to maximize the amount of energy which can be recovered from waste. So recent examples are the adoption of multi-stages condensation units capable of recovering also low-quality energy or adoption, or the use of absorption chillers, which can also deliver chilling energy rather than only heat. Modern and future concepts will include more complexity, a clear example is waste refineries which are multi processes facilities capable of delivering a broad portfolio of products. An example of waste refinery is the Danish concept [FOREIGN] It's a concept of four ways of the refinery. We have mixed waste enter the facility and after a temperature procedment process. The waste is fed into a reactor together with enzymes and water. Here, thanks to the enzymes, all the organic matter is liquefied. >> The output of the process is then mechanically separated to sort out available materials, such as plastics and metals, which are then sent for recycling to recycling facilities here. The liquid part, which is also called a bio slurry, is very suitable for bio gas production. And it to send to analoguely digestion facilities. Here bio gas is produced and from bio gas, energy can be generated. And in other nutrient rich output, digested, can be used as a fertilizer on agriculture land. In general terms, there's an increasing interest for gas technologies as a way to recover energy and valuable products from waste. And with gas technologies, is meant both thermal technologies and biological technologies. Where either sing gas or bio gas is produced. The reason why there is a growing interest, is that the gas produced can be easily stored, and can be utilized whenever there is a need. So it allows flexibility in the system. And how is this gas used? In traditional systems, this gas would be combusted in gas engine and electricity will be produced, and maybe heat can also be produced. But nowadays to improve the profitability, to maximize the profitability of the system. Gas is upgraded so unwanted compounds are removed and the content of the energetic compounds is increased which means that the gas can be used for advanced technological purposes such as fuel in transportation sector. It can be using in gas turbines with a high efficiency energy recovery but it can also be fed into the natural gas grid represent on a normal storage. So all in all what we are seeing is that the waste system is developing towards more complex system, where the environmental and the economics sustainability of waste treatment is greatly increased.
