ABPDU’s contribution to work converting municipal solid waste into chemicals that can be converted into biofuels was featured in a BETO Bioprose blog post.
The bioenergy industry has made big strides in producing fuels from non-food biomass sources. Examples include agricultural waste such as corn stover (the leaves, stalks, and cobs left after a corn harvest) and energy crops like switchgrass. However, many of these biomass sources are not available in adequate quantities throughout the year, which could result in supply challenges for biorefineries during some months or in some areas of the United States.
To address these supply challenges, an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) research team, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office, has reviewed a variety of available resource blends, including portions of municipal solid waste (MSW).