Gasification of Food Processing Byproducts an Economic Waste Handling Alternative

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of gasification of Food Processing Byproducts (FPBs). Data was collected from three facilities of a major food processor in Oklahoma and potential savings were calculated for gasifying byproducts. A small-scale updraft gasifier was used to test the feasibility of gasifying byproducts from food processors. Also, gasification tests were conducted on combinations of different byproducts of food processing. The producer gas was analyzed for energy content and cold gas efficiencies. The results used to determine potential savings by gasification as a waste handling alternative. Most of the food processing byproducts had high moisture content, in excess of 70% by weight (dry basis). The byproducts were preprocessed for ease of handling. Preprocessing involved blending and/or drying. The heating value of the producer gas ranged from 9.7 to 13.8 MJ/Kg. The cold gas efficiency was found to be in the range of 47 to 71%. The cold gas efficiency was then used to identify the potential savings by gasifying the FPBs. Waste disposal costs for three facilities in the year 2003 was 673,886. Potential income from gasification of available waste was calculated to be 499,275. Assuming a 70% reduction in waste disposal expenditure, potential savings of 322,834 was added to the potential income. The projected total potential savings was 822,109 per year.