Grantee Research Project Results
Navigating the Food-Energy-Water Nexus through the Conversion of Food Waste to Biocrude
EPA Grant Number: SU840872Title: Navigating the Food-Energy-Water Nexus through the Conversion of Food Waste to Biocrude
Investigators: Bauer, Sarah
Institution: Mercer University
EPA Project Officer: Cunniff, Sydney
Phase: I
Project Period: January 1, 2024 through May 10, 2025
Project Amount: $74,999
RFA: 20th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Description:
Societal needs regarding energy resources, water supplies, and waste management will only escalate as the world’s population continues to increase. Food, energy, and water security, interconnected within the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus, are arguably three of the most prominent sustainability issues facing our nation. In the coming years, society as a whole must utilize research and technological advances in these sectors and work together to improve the security of each sector in order to face the challenges of our growing nation. As the world’s population increases, so does societal demand for reliable, accessible energy supplies. Biofuels have been gaining traction as a renewable, theoretically carbon-neutral, and seemingly environmentally preferable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
Objective:
This project will investigate the sustainability of biofuels derived from waste streams, while seeking biofuel production technologies that do not impact existing water quality and quantity difficulties, nor environmental sustainability. This project will specifically evaluate the environmental performance of biofuels produced via the thermochemical processing technique of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) conversion of food waste, such as agricultural production waste, packaging waste, and beverage waste (i.e., produced from wine- and beer-making and coffee brewing), using a range of experimental methods and life-cycle and cost assessment techniques. Research aims include: (1) experimental characterization and optimization of food waste feedstocks and their corresponding post-HTL products and (2) life-cycle and cost assessment of hypothetical regional collection and conversion systems for biofuel and post-HTL products recovered from food waste streams.
Approach:
This project will utilize HTL to convert optimal food waste streams into liquid biocrude compatible with existing petroleum refining and distribution infrastructure. The results of this project have the potential to revolutionize the world in terms of creating an innovative solution to the challenges of the FEW Nexus. Nexus thinking is approached from the perspective of sustainability and the inter-relationship between people, prosperity, and the environment. Thus, this project is immediately integrated with beneficial impacts to people, prosperity, and the plant. With the development of an alternative energy source produced from food waste, we can increase energy supplies, decrease the quantity of food waste to be managed, reduce waste and prevent environmental contamination, as well as contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. An increase in renewable energy supplies will also lead to an enriched economy, as well as increased community access to better security, health and sanitation, and education and job opportunities.
The educational impact of this project will expose engineering and K-12 students to the realistic and necessary future of sustainable and healthy communities, including innovative developments in energy and resource conservation, renewable energy production, green spaces, and waste management. This project will support undergraduate and graduate students with a focus on diverse, underrepresented backgrounds in the multidisciplinary area of the FEW Nexus both in the classroom and in the research laboratory. This project will also support local K-12 students in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education through the development of educational content that will be implemented into well-established outreach programs at the host institution. Educational materials developed will provide K-12 students with simple, affordable hands-on and e-learning materials in the areas of sustainability and the FEW Nexus.
Expected Results:
The successful completion of this project will deliver intrinsic broader impact by filling critical knowledge gaps related to the feasibility and sustainability of waste-to- energy systems via HTL conversion using optimal food waste streams. Dissemination of the research findings of a full-scale life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) assessment model of a hypothetical HTL system will inform sustainability decision-making related to the commercialization of HTL-based fuel production from food waste streams. Experimental and modeling results will influence researchers in this field of study, state and local government organizations, as well as professionals in the renewable energy sector.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
renewable energy, life cycle analysis, food waste, resource recoveryProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.