“The ReSOURCE process aims to change this by converting these low-grade wastes into valuable organic molecules.” “Landfills are still the most cost-effective way to dispose of many organic wastes,” Loetscher said. Integrating NREL’s separation technology with CSU’s advances in anaerobic digestion and microbial management positions ReSOURCE to overcome challenges that have prevented the commercial viability of converting organic waste into products through anaerobic digestion. The modular design of Sharvelle and Loetscher’s system combined with De Long’s insights into microbial tailoring – cultivating the right microbes for the job – will enable ReSOURCE to handle a broad range of waste without crashing the system. Loetscher also co-founded Nexus Bioenergy, a partner on the DOE project. To solve this problem, Sharvelle and De Long have collaborated for years on an anaerobic digestion system co-invented by Sharvelle and Ph.D. When the waste composition changes, the system often crashes.
Similar projects have failed due to a major complication: microbial communities used in controlled anaerobic digestion are sensitive to variation in their food. “We’re engineering this natural process to capture high-value products,” said Susan De Long, co-investigator and associate professor in civil and environmental engineering. NREL has developed an advanced separation process that can effectively isolate volatile fatty acids from the waste stream. ReSOURCE will interrupt this natural process, called anaerobic digestion, stopping it short of methane production.Īrrested anaerobic digestion yields intermediate chemicals, including volatile fatty acids, which can be used to make valuable, sustainable products and fuels.
Decomposition, interruptedĭecomposing organic matter, including food, manure and yard waste, releases methane and other gases as it is digested by microbes. “It’s taking waste material with high carbon content and converting that carbon into something that replaces the carbon in fossil fuels,” said Sybil Sharvelle, principal investigator for CSU’s share of the project and a professor in civil and environmental engineering. ReSOURCE will convert organic waste into valuable products, such as sustainable aviation fuel, cleaning solvents and lubricants. The project – dubbed ReSOURCE, or Recirculating System for Optimal Use of Refuse with Control and Efficiency – aims to produce the first carbon-negative biorefinery. CSU will receive $1.3 million of the award to build on anaerobic digestion research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Department of Energy, and the project is one of 68 selected to receive a total of $175 million to develop novel clean energy technologies. The collaboration was awarded $3.5 million from the U.S. The project will combine technologies pioneered at CSU and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. view moreĬolorado State University researchers are part of a team developing a first-of-its-kind system that will create renewable energy while diverting waste from landfills. Image: ReSOURCE will convert organic waste into renewable energy through arrested anaerobic digestion.