by Greg Benz, P.E. In aerobic fermentation, a frequent issue is the tendency for an aerated liquid to generate foam. In extreme cases, the foam can be so severe as to render the fermenter inoperable…
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Alternative Proteins – Bioreactors
Bioreactors play a crucial role in the production of alternative proteins, which are plant-based, insect-based, or lab-grown protein sources that aim to replace traditional animal-based protein sources. Bioreactors are used to cultivate microorganisms, such as…
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The 30-30 Rule: Lessons from the Field in Wood Power
By Charles Loos, P.E., Lee Enterprises Consulting From an operations standpoint, a wood-fired power plant can be described as a fuel handling system first, and a power plant second. The biggest challenges stem from the fuel…
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Recycling Waste Plastics
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering waste plastics or scraps of plastic and reprocessing them into useful products. Most plastic is not biodegradable, meaning that left untreated, it will be here for millions of…
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Future of Plastic Recycling
What is the future of plastic recycling? According to recent reports, the U.S. generates about 40 million tons of plastic waste yearly. About 85% goes to landfills and about 10% is incinerated. Only the remaining…
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Tire and Rubber Recycling
Tire and rubber recycling, and disposing of tires generally, have historically been very challenging due to the worldwide volume, rubber’s robust durability, and the ecological implications of tires in landfills. In years past, billions of…
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Renewable Technology Assessment
Renewable technologies are emerging worldwide as mainstream sources of energy, fuels, and chemicals. Rapid growth has been driven by the improving cost-competitiveness of renewable technologies, dedicated policy initiatives, better access to financing, energy security, and…
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Analyzing Renewable Technologies
As new renewable technologies emerge and seek funding and industry acceptance, it is imperative that investors, lenders, and all project participants engage experienced professionals to help analyze the technical and economic aspects of these new…
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Gasification Expert
A gasification expert is an expert in the process of converting biomass or other organic carbonaceous feedstocks into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The gasification process involves heating the material to a high temperature…
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Waste to Energy Expert
A waste-to-energy expert may assist with various technologies, consisting of several different thermochemical or biological methods of generating energy from waste materials. Popular waste-to-energy commercial applications include combustion and anaerobic digestion for processing municipal solid…
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