SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The Board of Directors of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) announces the award of 2 new research grants. The following projects have been funded in 2020:
Non-Recyclable Plastics to Pavements
Investigator: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Award Amount: $161,075
This research seeks to create high-value and high-volume products from plastic waste for bitumen (asphalt binder) replacement in pavements. The bitumen replacement market is a potential repurposing for large quantities of waste plastics. It addresses an urgent economic and environmental need for plastic recycling as well as the transportation industry. With 4-5% replacement of bitumen, this market has the potential to consume 1 million tons of waste plastics out of the 26 million tons that go to landfills in the US. Also, the study goal is aligned with the global emphasis on enhancing transportation infrastructure sustainability. Moreover, asphalt pavements are 100% recyclable; therefore, plastic waste will remain in a recycling circular loop. Plastic waste that would typically be landfilled will be formulated for incorporation in bitumen that meets performance specifications for durability. Through manipulation of the chemical and molecular composition of waste plastics, current challenges, including sorting and processing of different plastics, storage instability and compatibility between bitumen and various plastics will be addressed.
The objectives of this study are as follows:
Techno-Economic Evaluation of Supercritical Water Oxidation for Landfill Leachate and Condensate Management
Investigator: Duke University
Award Amount: $152,000
Landfill leachate and condensate management can be a major cost of operating a landfill and they are an important contingent liability. For example, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are now found in many landfills and cause great concerns to owners and operators. Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) is a game-changing treatment technology that could provide superior treatment with better economics. Deshusses’ lab is leading the U.S. in SCWO technology research.
The objectives of this project are to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of using SCWO at landfills by:
Pre-proposals are required prior to submitting a full proposal. EREF invites investigators to submit pre-proposals pertaining to the topics outlined on the “How to Apply for a Grant” page on EREF’s website. The next pre-proposal deadline is December 1, 2020.
Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com
Copper Scrap View All | |
Alternator | 0.31 (0) |
#1 Copper Bare Bright | 3.69 (0.04) |
Aluminum Scrap View All | |
356 Aluminum Wheels (Clean) | 0.71 (0) |
6061 Extrusions | 0.62 (0) |
Steel Scrap View All | |
#1 Bundle | 475.00 (0) |
#1 Busheling | 495.00 (0) |
Electronics Scrap View All |