Public-Private-Academic Partnership in Kyoto to Convert Municipal Solid Waste into Ethanol

Samples from ethanol production process (1. Heavy waste 2. Pulp 3. Fermentation 4. Distillation)
Copyright Kyoto City

The city of Kyoto announced on August 19, 2011 that, together with Hitachi Zosen Corporation, one of Japan's largest heavy industrial company, and Kumamoto University, it would develop technology to produce biofuel from Municipal Solid Waste(MSW) collected from households and offices. Kyoto has been promoting biomass utilization as part of its activities as a model eco-city selected by the Japanese government. The production of ethanol from MSW, including paper, is the first trial in Japan.

MSW is a feasible raw material for ethanol production because it has a stable supply and well-established collection system. Under Kyoto's project, collected MSW will be crushed by a paddle type shredder and plastics will be removed by a separator. After fermenting the resulting material with enzymes and a special type of yeast, the solution will then be refined to make ethanol. One ton of waste is expected to produce 60 liters of ethanol. The project also plans to produce biogas from the residue byproduct.

The pilot project will run for two years from fiscal 2011 through 2012. Kyoto will provide space at the compression baling facility in Nishikyo Ward as a site for building of pilot plant, while giving advice based on the waste investigation data the city has accumulated.. Hitachi Zosen will construct the machines, and Kumamoto University will provide the yeast and oversee verification testing. The three parties intend to put the technology to practical use by 2013. The refined ethanol will be used as an alternative for gasoline and also for power generators.

Tokyo Gas Starts the Test of Producing Bioethanol and Biogas from Food Waste (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/027107.html
Kitakyushu Starts Pilot Production of Ethanol from Food Waste (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026834.html

Posted: 2011/12/17 06:00:15 AM