Roadmap
Research Sub-Theme
Thermal Treatment Technology
- Pyrolysis: Utilization of organic waste to produce bio-oil, biochar, and synthesis gas.
- Gasification: Conversion of solid waste into synthesis gas for use as fuel or chemical feedstock.
- Incineration: Emission-controlled waste combustion technology for electricity generation.
- Plasma in Liquid: Utilization of plasma technology for conversion of waste into energy and material.
Socio-economic and Policy Aspects
- Economic Analysis: Study of the costs and benefits of implementing WtE technologies.
- Policy, land and Regulation: Recommendations to encourage adoption of WtE technologies.
- Community Empowerment: Small-scale implementation of technologies for local communities.
Biological Conversion
- Anaerobic Digestion: Production of biogas from organic waste such as food waste, agriculture, and wastewater.
- Ethanol Fermentation: Conversion of biomass into bioethanol as an alternative fuel.
- Microbial Treatment: The use of microorganisms to optimize waste-to-energy processing.
Functional Materials Development
- Composites and polymer, carbon, and bioplastics from waste
- Material design and heterogeneous catalysts for bio-oil or bio-gas production.
- Materials for Energy Systems: Production of materials such as membranes for fuel cells and electrodes for batteries from waste.
Pollution, Emissions and Environmental Impact Management
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Control: Technologies to reduce CO2, CH4, and NOx emissions from the WtE process.
- Residual waste management based on source, composition, and disposal
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Analysis of the environmental impact of WtE technology.
Hybrid Technology and Systems
- Waste Power Plant
- Sensor, filter, and carbon sink material production
- CH4 treatment, carbon capture, utilization, and storage
- Fuel processing for Refuse-derived fuel (RDF), Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), and Tire-Derived Fuel (TRF)
- Combination of thermal and biological processes to optimize energy efficiency.
Specific Waste Management
- Electronic Waste (E-Waste): Conversion of e-waste into energy or raw materials.
- Medical Waste: Safe technology to convert medical waste into energy or raw material.
Process Digitalization and Optimization
- Internet of Things (IoT): Application of IoT in monitoring and controlling WtE processes.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): WtE process optimization using machine learning.
- Simulation and Modeling: Numerical modeling to improve the efficiency of WtE technology.