From garbage to gas

i-5506477a27d63d4270220b98536b5ab2-garbage syngas-2.jpg Engineer Joseph Longo has found a way to turn almost any type of trash into a synthetic gas called syngas. For almost 20 years the Bristol, Connecticut-based founder and CEO of Startech Environmental Corporation has been developing a plasma converter-a machine about the size of a two-car garage that can consume nearly any type of waste-from dirty diapers to chemical weapons. It uses a process called plasma gasification which, as explained in an article published by Popular Science Magazine, works a bit like the big bang, only backward (you get nothing from something):

A 650-volt current passing between two electrodes rips electrons from the air, converting the gas into plasma. Current flows continuously through this newly formed plasma, creating a field of extremely intense energy very much like lightning. The radiant energy of the plasma arc is so powerful it disintegrates trash into its constituent elements by tearing apart molecular bonds.

The only by-products of this process are an obsidian-like glass used as a raw material for numerous applications, including bathroom tiles and high-strength asphalt, and a synthesis gas, or "syngas"--a mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be converted into a variety of marketable fuels, including ethanol, natural gas and hydrogen.

More impressive is that this machine is self-sustaining. The converter can be run on electricity generated by turbines powered with syngas.

One caveat is that this technology has not been proven on a large scale, as would be needed if it were to be used for commercial purposes. Furthermore, the article cites some concerns about the byproducts produced:

Some scientists, like Brad Van Guilder of the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, believe that "the obsidian-like slag contains toxic heavy metals and breaks down when exposed to water" and could therefore contaminate ground water when disposed. Others wonder about the cleanliness of the syngas. "In the cool-down phases, the components in the syngas could re-form into toxins," warns Monica Wilson, the international coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, in Berkeley, California, which could further affect the environment.

These concerns are worth acknowledging. Nevertheless, governments around the world appear to believe in the promise of this technology and are investing quite heavily in it. It will be interesting to see if this promise of converting trash into clean energy will hold true.

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In terms of Greenhouse gases it is very likely a strong plus, as in a normal landfall methane is produced as a decay product. Methane is 20 something times as effective as a GHG than CO2, so even if you burn off the syngas, you are reducing the GHG footprint.
Of course toxic byproducts, and cost may well mean this technology never makes it.

I have worked on coal gassification for years. I have an expired patent on removing CO2 from crude syngas. Comment: An electric arc, such as an electric arc furnace or welding torch is old hat so equipment may not be difficult or patentable. Heating biomass without air makes a mixture of H2O2, CO, CO2, H2O and sulfur and chlorine compounds to name a few items. Scrubbing out the CO2 is expensive. Catalytic equipment to convert CO to CH4 is standard. I expect that only a small percent of the energy in the biomass becomes useable energy. An expensive part of the process may be to dry the biomass. Good luck, but don't bet much money on it. RH

While heavy metal contamination is concerning, let's be clear. This process doesn't "create" heavy metals - after all, it is not nuclear. Any heavy metals that are in the slag would have been in the trash pile anyway. Does this process somehow make heavy metals more likely to leach out into the groundwater? If so, that would obviously be a deal-breaker. Still, it may be that this technique might actually lessen the likelihood of environmental contamination.

A 650-volt current passing between two electrodes. What type of electrodes is used or is it a secret?

Too good too be true? Yes. Think waste of energy not waste to energy. These projects never pencil out or work well.

Many have tried them and they've gone under -- costing governments and taxpayers a lot of money.

They often use a scam-like arrangement called put or pay in which the company gets fees from the government even if the government wants to stop the usually polluting technology.

And the company trying to sell these typically cite a project that is up and running in another country, like Germany or Australia. But when investigated it is found that the overseas project is not up, not running, costing a lot of money, and having a lot of operational problems that result in toxic releases.

I am still curious and optimistic about this. If we can make a closed loop out of waste and clean energy, it would solve 2 massive problems at once, and even if the technology is not perfect, just heading in that direction seems like a great way to go. The latest internet articles I've read indicated that New York City, the Army, some cities in Florida as well as Puerto Rico have purchased this system. I really would like to know if this is the panacea that is promised, true but less benign than advertised, or a complete fabrication. Does anyone have any current, specific information to confirm or deny the claims from Startech Environmental Corporation? Thanks.

By Deanna Brown (not verified) on 08 Jul 2007 #permalink

I don't have any specific information on that but if I come across any I'll be sure to post it.