Composite Material Using Organic Waste for Negative Carbon Footprint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing organic waste do not effectively reduce carbon emissions, as they often result in the production of methane in landfills, a potent greenhouse gas, and do not utilize waste materials efficiently to create sustainable products.
Innovation Solution
A composite material is developed comprising at least 40 wt% heterogeneous organic matter, including cellulose, with a blend of synthetic polymers and up to 15 wt% inorganic matter, having a carbon footprint of less than -10 KgCO2 eq/Kg, which can be used to dilute synthetic polymers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting organic waste from landfills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If organic waste is disposed of in landfills, then waste management is simplified, but methane emissions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts organic waste that would otherwise produce harmful methane emissions in landfills into a beneficial composite material. By processing organic waste through drying, granulation, and extrusion with synthetic polymers, the invention transforms a harmful waste stream into a useful product with negative carbon footprint, thereby eliminating methane generation while creating economic value
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers organic waste materials that would normally be discarded in landfills. Through a multi-step process including drying to remove moisture, granulation to create uniform particles, and extrusion to form composite material, the invention retrieves value from discarded organic matter and repurposes it as a sustainable building material or plastic alternative
2Object-generated harmful factors
If composite material is produced from organic waste, then carbon emissions are reduced, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex production process into distinct sequential stages: drying organic waste to reduce moisture content, granulating the dried material to create uniform particles, and extruding the granules mixed with synthetic polymers to form the final composite material. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall complex process into manageable, standardized operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by combining processed organic waste with synthetic polymers in controlled ratios. This composite approach allows the integration of biodegradable organic components with durable synthetic components, achieving both environmental benefits and functional performance while managing production complexity through established composite material processing techniques
3Object-generated harmful factors
If high content of organic matter is used in composite material, then carbon footprint is reduced, but material strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the carbon footprint of the composite material by adjusting the proportion of organic matter to synthetic polymer, drying the organic waste to controlled moisture levels, and controlling the extrusion parameters. By changing these physical and compositional parameters, the invention achieves the best balance between environmental performance and mechanical properties
4Object-generated harmful factors
If organic waste is diverted from landfills, then methane production is mitigated, but waste utilization efficiency must be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material that serves multiple functions: it acts as a sustainable building material, a plastic alternative, and a carbon sequestration medium. The organic waste component provides biodegradability and carbon negativity, while the synthetic polymer component provides structural integrity and durability. This multi-functionality maximizes the value extracted from diverted waste, improving utilization efficiency while mitigating methane production
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a composite material for use in reducing carbon emission. the composite material comprising (i) at least 40 wt % of heterogenous organic matter out of a total weight of the composite material, said heterogenous organic matter comprising at least cellulose (ii) a plurality of synthetic polymers and (iii) up to 15 wt % inorganic matter; wherein said composite material comprises less than 5 wt % polyethylene terephthalate PET out of the total weight of the composite material: and wherein said composite has a carbon footprint of below about-10Kg CO2 eq/Kg as determined according to ISO 14040:2006. Also disclosed is an article of manufacture comprising the composite material. method of producing the article of manufacture.