Grantee Research Project Results
High Performance Products for Poultry Biowaste Processing
EPA Contract Number: EPD06027Title: High Performance Products for Poultry Biowaste Processing
Investigators: Skinner, Richard D
Small Business: Production Specialties, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Biology/Life Sciences , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Animal Waste and Waste to Energy
Description:
Surface water quality impacts associated with intensive, large-scale poultry production are significant and pervasive in many parts of the country. Production Specialties, Inc. has developed process technology for converting waste (poultry litter and manure) into commercial energy and chemical products. Although major technical problems have been successfully resolved, economic performance of a commercial-scale processing facility remains an issue and will be assessed in the commercial-scale demonstration project that currently is underway. To ensure commercial development of the process technology, all opportunities for making high or higher value products must be pursued. Production of high-purity lignin streams that can be used as an asphalt additive and impart improved performance and increased product lifetime to petroleum asphalt products represents such an opportunity.
Petroleum asphalt consumption in the United States amounts to approximately, 30 million tons annually for roadway construction and maintenance. Extending the life of asphalt roads could have significant positive impact on U.S. petroleum consumption and the federal budget. The problem will be addressed by separating a natural, complex biopolymer from selected biomass feedstocks. The biopolymer will be used in asphalt formulations and evaluated for its performance as an antioxidant in standard laboratory tests for asphalt. Small quantities of biomass materials (including agricultural residues) will be processed to generate “pound” quantities of refined lignocellullose additive material. This additive material will be blended with two candidate petroleum asphalt feedstocks to produce sample materials for laboratory evaluation (binder tests), which will be used to project asphalt pavement performance and life span. Successful development and deployment of this technology will allow biomass-derived products to displace effectively about 3 million tons of petroleum currently used for asphalt formulation annually in the United States. The maintenance for asphalt roadways could be reduced by one-third, saving U.S. taxpayers approximately $2 billion annually. The creation of this product and development of this market will benefit biorefineries by improving their economic viability and expanding their product slate to include a value-added product that will be accepted readily into existing markets. In addition, the balance of trade would be improved by as much as $600 million due the amount of foreign oil, displaced by biomass-derived products. Successful development of the proposed technology will allow indigenous renewable resources to displace approximately 3 million tons of petroleum products and create a market for poultry waste processing products.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, biowaste processing, petroleum, poultry production, animal waste management, waste reuse, asphalt maintenance, biorefineries, economics, waste processing plants, EPA, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Technology, biotechnology, asphalt emulsions, poulty waste asphalt additive, environmentally benign alternative, biowaste, animal waste, agricultural byproducts, alternative materialsProgress 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.