MABA May 17 Webinar: A New Technology: Hydrothermal Treatment of Biosolids

With ever increasing restrictions on landfill and land application and a growing concern with emerging contaminants, specifically perfluorinated compounds, there is increasing interest in new and innovative thermal technologies that maximize biosolids reduction, produce beneficial products and allow for recovery of energy.  This webinar will present the current status of several hydrothermal processing technologies and opportunities which are in development that may allow utilities to diversify their biosolids processing portfolios and provide additional pathways to recover energy and nutrients from biosolids.

COST:
Member: $25
Nonmember: $50

Moderator: Terry Goss, P.E., Biosolids Practice Leader, Water, AECOM

Presentation 1: C-Green’s Hydrothermal Carbonization
Erik Oden, Co-founder of C-Green; John Ellersick, President of Next Rung Technology
We humans produce roughly 470 million tons of sewage sludge per year, on a global basis.   Challenges associated with the handling of this waste include nutrient recovery (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous), environmental and climate issues, and the rising costs associated with waste disposal, especially in the densely populated Northeast. This session discusses an innovative new technology that combines hydrothermal carbonization with wet oxidation to reduce input volume by upwards of 80%, in a self-sustaining process that produces excess heat energy and a sterile and odor free hydrochar, having potential for use in many other areas, including as a potential carbon sink, in energy production, or as a soil amendment.

Presentation 2: Hydrothermal Carbonization – An update on HTC at the Borough of Phoenixville WWTP and BioCoal product development
Jeremy Taylor, SoMax Circular Solutions
SoMax Circular Solutions, in partnership with the Borough of Phoenixville, is installing the first commercial-scale Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) process in the United States at the Borough of Phoenixville Wastewater Treatment Plant. HTC converts wet organic wastes, such as sewage sludge, into a carbon dense solid, known as BioCoal, or Hydrochar. The HTC unit is currently under construction with commissioning set for later this year. This presentation will focus on the fundamentals of HTC, the pursuit of beneficial use, permitting of the hydrochar, and updates on project implementation. 

Presentation 3: Progress and Status of Hydrothermal Processing for Wastewater Solids
James Oyler, Genifuel Corporation
The presentation will discuss Hydrothermal Processing to eliminate wastewater solids by converting the solids to renewable oil and gas.  The presentation will discuss the status of the mobile hydrothermal system currently operating at the Altamonte Springs Regional Water Reclamation Plant in Orlando, FL as well as experience with other utilities.  The presentation will also describe synergies with how the system has processed a mix of algae with wastewater solids which will allow wastewater plants to address algae bloom issues in conjunction with a process that harvests algae from rivers and lakes.