Combining technologies to solve organic waste problem

Consulting engineer and environmental solutions company SEMF is to provide the engineering and project management capability for the development of a processing plant capable of producing high-quality biological soil conditioner and renewable energy from abattoir waste.

This is claimed to be the first time in Australia that anaerobic digester and soil conditioning technologies will be brought together to provide a solution of this nature.

To be built adjacent the Longford wastewater treatment plant, south-west of Launceston, the facility is designed to lessen the burden on the plant, which until now has been coping with the town’s treatment and trade waste requirements as well as the 30 tonnes of organic waste produced by the local abattoir each day.

To be constructed and operated by environmental development company IMP Environmental (which specialises in bringing business together for the purpose of high-volume organic waste projects), the facility will comprise two separate plants connected by a process transfer pipe.

The anaerobic digester plant - designed and manufactured by Korean-based Dongmun IRS - will convert solid organic waste from the abattoir into biogas and liquid digestate. The liquid digestate will then be transferred to the soil conditioning production facility where it will be converted into soil conditioner.

Fertiliser batching involves the creation of a valuable soil conditioning product by adding microorganisms and trace minerals to liquid digestate which is handled in carefully controlled conditions.

The biogas produced by the anaerobic digester will be used to generate electricity for operating the facility, with excess power being fed back into the grid.

SEMF’s key involvement will be to integrate the anaerobic digester and soil conditioning technologies into a seamless, stand-alone process facility. In addition, it will also be responsible for providing engineering design for the soil conditioning facility and conducting local compliance checks on the anaerobic digester plant.

Says SEMF’s Greg Tomamichel, who will project manage the task: “Combining the technologies is what makes the plant unique. Until now, there have been a range of processes for converting organic wastes to renewable energy but none in Australia have been integrated to create high-value soil conditioning products. This is what sets this plant apart.”

He says while the Longford project will only manage a relatively low-volume waste stream, the project will be an excellent opportunity to display what might be achievable on a larger scale with future projects.

Engineering design work on the Longford facility is already well underway, with site works poised to commence before the end of 2010.