Reducing contamination risk and increasing yields in the production of platform sugars from UK MSW

Lead Research Organisation: University of Southampton
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering & the Environment

Abstract

Fiberight has created a circular economy solution to generate value-added products from municipal solid waste (MSW). The process involves thermo-mechanically treating and washing the MSW to recover two main fractions: recyclables and biomass. The washing stage generates a washwater containing soluble organic matter which can be a feed for high-rate anaerobic digesters to produce biogas, a source of renewable energy. The residual solid from washing is a 'clean' biomass rich in lignocellulosic fibre that can be converted into sugars via enzyme hydrolysis: these sugars form the building blocks for a wide range of products in a waste-based industrial biorefinery. The project will test novel methods including the use of specialised additives in the MSW washing stage to improve the quality of the washed cellulose fibre and increase its sugar yield, and a new low-cost agent for pH control, to reduce the risks of contamination from food waste and nutrients affecting the downstream sugar production stage.

Technical Summary

Fiberight Ltd has created a circular economy solution to recover materials and generate value-added products from municipal solid waste (MSW). The process involves pulping and washing the MSW to produce three main fractions: plastic and metal recyclables, a paper-rich fibre product, and a washwater rich in organic materials. The fibre is subsequently converted into sugars by enzyme hydrolysis, and these can form the building blocks for a wide range of products in a waste-based industrial biorefinery. The washwater is fed to high rate anaerobic digesters to produce biogas, a source of renewable energy, and the cleaned water from the process can potentially be fed back into the process to minimise fresh water inputs.
The current project is developing innovative methods for process enhancement and improved product yield which are suitable for use on MSW as collected at kerbside in the UK. This could potentially offer an integrated solution to separation of the energy-rich food component in our waste from the cellulose-rich fibre wastes which are now recognised as ideal targets for second generation Industrial bioenergy and biorefinery applications. The concept is to use specialised additives to the MSW washing stage to improve the quality of the washed fibre and increase its sugar yield, and to use a new low-cost agent for pH control in the hydrolysis stage. Both of these measures will contribute to minimising sugar losses. This is as a result of adventitious and undesired bacterial growth, which consumes the desired sugar product and produces an unfavourable environment for continuing efficient hydrolysis. The research will look at different additives as enhancers of the washing process and in doing this improve separation of the MSW into clean fibre and solubilised food waste.
Process improvement may also occur through enhanced and more economic pH control during the hydrolysis process. The research will test the potential for using a secondary low-cost waste material whose properties make it ideal for buffering hydrolysis at the target pH, allowing for efficient use of the enzymes. It is likely that this approach could potentially be used in a wide range of hydrolysis and fermentation processes in other related industries where lactic acid spoilage is potentially a major problem.

Planned Impact

The project will:
- Overcome technical hurdles that could delay implementation of the Fiberight process in the UK BBSRC Reference: BB/N023854/1 Page 1 of 2
- Develop methods that can be more widely applied to first generation fermentation processes and to the wider recovery of recyclates from Material Recycling Facilities
- Help to familiarise the general public and stakeholders with the concept and benefits of a waste-based industrial biorefinery through outreach and public engagement activities

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description CLEANFIBER allowed optimisation of Fiberight's platform materials separation process at the laboratory scale. The research focused on using additives to boost the recovery of food waste organics from MSW. The experimental results demonstrated positive outcomes in which increased recovery and solubilisation of foodwaste was achieved. This material was then successfully processed through anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane. A secondary organic stream recovered within the Fiberight process is paper pulp. The additives used had the added benefit of reducing microbial contamination during the enzymatic conversion of this paper pulp.
Exploitation Route Fiberight is evaluating the cost and benefits from this experimental data and will investigate the feasibility of utilising these surfactants at the demonstration and commercial scale.
Sectors Energy

Environment

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

 
Description Fiberight Ltd applied the findings of these studies in its pilot-plant and changed the process design of its planned full-scale installations based on the findings of this work. The company has obtained further funding to build a demonstration plant and is making significant strides in taking the technology to market.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
Impact Types Economic

 
Description ADNet Research Colloquium 2017 poster sessions 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Poster presentations at ADNet Research Colloquium Sept 2017 on research being carried out as part of Newton Link with NUCE, and from ERA-Net AmbiGAs project, IBCat H2AD and CLEANFIBER. Also publicised on social media - see Facebook post 114 on 24 Sept 2017 https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton/posts/811962112298248
 
Description BORRG Presentation CLEANFIBER (Gandolfi, July 2017) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation on results of CLEANFIBER studies by Dr Stefano Gandolfi to Bioenergy and Organic Resources Research Group members (BORRG, www.bioenergy.soton.ac.uk) plus visiting researchers and guests. Approx 30 attendees.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description BORRG Presentation on CLEANFIBER (Gandolfi, Oct 2017) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation on results of CLEANFIBER studies by Dr Stefano Gandolfi to Bioenergy and Organic Resources Research Group members (BORRG, www.bioenergy.soton.ac.uk) plus visiting researchers and guests. Approx 30 attendees.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Brighton Science Festival 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Outreach event on the circular bioeconomy at Brighton Science Festival 8-10 Feb 2017 where laboratory and pilot-scale equipment relating to the CLEANFIBER project was displayed and the project was explained. This reached a very wide audience ranging from school children to experts, and raised interest in and awareness of the use of science and technology in creating a sustainable future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description CLEANFIBER BORRG presentations 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentations by Dr Dhivya Puri on 26/10/2016 and Dr Stefano Gandolfi on 11/01/2017 to the University of southampton's Bioenergy and Organic Resources Research Group (BORRG), plus external visitors and guests, describing research project and summarising early results. Approximately 35 participants. Presentations subsequently circulated to attendees.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description CLEANFIBER UASB Trial Jan 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Video clip and posting on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor trials being carried out as part of the CLEANFIBER project (BB/N023854/1 and Innovate UK). Posted on 31 Jan 2018, viewed by more than 120 people, 12 Likes. See https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton/ for related posts.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton/videos/874221769405615/
 
Description CLEANFIBER kick-off post 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Information on CLEANFIBER project and outreach activities posted to University of Southampton Environment Lab Facebook site. Post viewed by over 400 people, including industry, academic / research but also public and schools. For details see post 82 placed on 30/11/2016.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton
 
Description CLEANFIBER pilot plant 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Information of CLEANFIBER pilot plant and project progress posted to University of Southampton Environment Lab Facebook site. Post viewed by over 400 people, primarily academic / research but also industry, public and schools. For details see post 89 placed on 31/01/2017.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton
 
Description Fiberight follow-up post 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Information on placement by Fiberight-sponsored student Maria Ramos Suarez whose work built on the CLEANFIBRE project and other carried out in conjunction with the sponsoring company . Posted 31 March 2020,
850+ views, 32 Likes, 4 comments and 2 shares to date. See post 212 https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton/posts/1539825646178554
 
Description Science and Engineering Day 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Science and Engineering Day 2017 activities on campus at University of Southampton. These aim at raising awareness of the public, and especially children and young people, of STEM subjects. Participation in the event by Hoai Son Tran, our incoming 12-month visitor from NUCE. The event was also reported on the University of Southampton Environmental Laboratory Facebook page (see post 96 on 28 March 2017) with a short video clip. The main Science and Engineering day was attended by over 7500 people and the post viewed by over 300 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.facebook.com/environmental.lab.university.of.southampton