Organic Waste Fractionation for PHA and Nutrient-Rich Compost
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes fail to effectively separate compostable agricultural material and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) from organic waste, neglecting the potential of different waste fractions for targeted biodegradable plastic and nutrient-rich compost production.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase process involving homogenization, hydro-distillation, ion exchange, anaerobic and aerobic fermentation, and filtration to transform various organic waste types into PHA and compostable material, utilizing specific chemical reagents and bacterial strains to optimize separation and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing processes are used to produce PHA from organic waste, then PHA production is achieved, but the compostable fraction for agriculture cannot be generated and separated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the organic waste treatment process into distinct segments: one pathway for PHA production and another pathway for compostable fraction generation. The organic waste is processed through separate bioreactors where different bacterial strains selectively produce either PHA or compostable material, allowing both products to be generated independently from the same raw material source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal treatment system that can produce multiple valuable products from a single organic waste stream. The same types of organic waste (food waste, agricultural residues, sewage sludge) can be directed to different processing pathways to generate either biodegradable plastics (PHA) or nutrient-rich compost, making the system versatile in meeting different product demands.
2Ease of manufacture
If organic waste is sent directly to landfill or used in conventional composting, then waste disposal is achieved, but the potential for producing both PHA and nutrient-rich compost is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specialized bacterial strains as intermediary agents that transform organic waste into valuable products. These bacteria act as mediators between the raw organic waste and the final products (PHA and compost), enabling the conversion process to occur under controlled conditions in bioreactors rather than through simple disposal methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural metabolic capabilities of bacterial strains to perform the conversion of organic waste into PHA and compost. The bacteria self-organize and carry out the transformation processes autonomously based on the provided organic substrate, reducing the need for complex external intervention while maximizing product yield.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Efficiently produces PHA and compostable agricultural material, enriching it with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, while maximizing the utilization of diverse waste streams.
Implementation Method 1
all solid and liquid raw materials will be mixed and homogenized in a reactor, in which the raw materials of the recipe will be homogenized-ground, obtaining an intimate mixture. The grinding of the mixture will generate a mush which, depending on the contribution of each fraction to the recipe, will have a variable concentration of solids having a size of less than 100 μm.
Implementation Method 2
Fats and oils will be transformed into fatty acids Glycogen and starch will be transformed into glucose monomers, fructose monomers, dextrins, etc. Proteins will be hydrolyzed into their basic components; amino acids (Aa) and small peptide chains. Solubilization of insoluble sulfates, carbonates and phosphates.
Implementation Method 3
the addition of chemical reagents and the supply of heat by means of the heated (inner and/or outer) jacket and ultrasound, as well as the recirculation of the steam generated and condensed during reflux, transformation will take place
Implementation Method 4
The hydro-distiller has, in addition to an stirrer, a US system that allows cell lysis and disintegration of organic matter
Implementation Method 5
the recirculation of the steam generated and condensed during reflux
Implementation Method 6
aerobic PHA-manufacturing reactor (RAPHA), in which a PHA-overproducing bacterium has been inoculated
Implementation Method 7
anaerobic reactor will be inoculated with activated sludge from WWTP (wastewater treatment plant), such that, and with the organic matter input from the RHS fraction, there will be generated, by means of anaerobic acidogenic fermentation, VFA (volatile fatty acids)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process and equipment required for the transformation of residual organic matter into PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and compostable material for agriculture. According to the process of the present invention, the residual organic matter generated by human activity will be used as raw material for the process described in the invention to generate biodegradable plastic in the form of PHA and compostable material for agriculture, rich in organic matter and nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.