Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability

Co-gasification and co-pyrolysis of biomass with waste plastic and tires

As society searches for alternatives to fossil fuels for meeting global energy demand, the importance of processes utilizing biomass have come to the forefront. Additionally, accumulation of waste is a global issue, particularly for materials such as plastics and tires that do not naturally degrade and pose threats to environmental health. In this project, we investigated co-pyrolysis of biomass with waste plastics and tires as a way to address both issues outlined above. Co-pyrolysis of these materials showed a synergistic relationship, resulting in the products of pyrolysis (e.g. bio-oil) having a higher fuel grade.

Remediation of Greenhouse Nutrient Feedwater Using Duckweed Biomass

Greenhouse nutrient feedwater (GNF) is an under-utilized resource generated during greenhouse production of vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants. Discharge of GNF to the environment must meet provincial regulations under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, necessitating GNF management infrastructure. In this study, we explored the use of aquatic plants in the duckweed (Lemnaceae) family to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from GNF. Duckweed biomass has many potential downstream uses, including in the food/feed and biofuel sectors.