St.
Joseph Higher Secondary School
68th Science Festival 2025
Project Display
Topic : Waste to
Energy
Members:
1. Saifan Ahmed Sadit (6W-58)
2. Abdullah Al Mamun (6W-59)
3. Tasin Shahriar (6W-60)
Introductio
n
In this project,we will discover the uses of
Waste to energy technologies and build a
simple waste to energy plant that can be used
to make energy or [Link] fuel that comes as
the result of this process can be used in
varieties of ways,from using it as a vehicle
fuel to producing electricity.
What is ‘Waste to Energy’?
The world faces significant challenges regarding waste management
and energy production. With urbanization and industrialization, the
volume of waste generated continues to increase, posing a severe
environmental threat. Simultaneously, the demand for energy rises,
necessitating innovative solutions to bridge the gap between waste
accumulation and energy scarcity. Waste-to-energy (WtE) projects
present a promising solution by converting waste materials into usable
[Link]-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) refers to a
series of processes designed to convert waste materials into usable
forms of energy, typically electricity or heat. As a form of energy
recovery, WtE plays a crucial role in both waste management and
sustainable energy production by reducing the volume of waste in
landfills and providing an alternative energy [Link] fundamental
principle behind WtE is to divert waste from landfills and use it as a
resource for generating energy, thereby contributing to sustainable
waste management and energy production.
Methods
Incineration
Pyrolysis
Gasification
Thermal depolymerization
Plasma arc gasification or plasma gasification process
(PGP)
Anaerobic digestion
Incineration
Incineration is the most widely used method for
waste to energy [Link] method includes
burning of the waste materials to produce energy.
Pyrolysis
Pylolysis is the process that is used to convert plastic
into fuel is pyrolysis, the thermal decomposition of
materials at high temperatures in an inert
atmosphere. The fuel obtained from the process is
known as thermofuel,and is used for machinery.
Gasification
Gasification produces combustible gas, hydrogen,
synthetic fuels by reacting feedstock materials in
high temperatures.
Thermal depolymerization
Thermal depolymerization produces
synthetic crude oil, which can be further
refined by turning polymers into monomers.
Plasma gasification process
Plasma arc gasification or plasma gasification process (PGP)
produces rich syngas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide
usable for fuel cells or generating electricity to drive the plasma
arch, usable vitrified silicate and metal ingots, salt and sulphur.
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which
microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the
absence of oxygen to produce biogas rich in methane.
Advantages
Waste to Energy projects offer numerous
environmental, economic, and social benefits:
[Link] Reduction
[Link] Production
[Link] Gas Emission Reduction
[Link] Benefits
[Link] Recovery
Challenges
While WtE projects offer significant benefits, they also face several
challenges:
[Link] Capital Costs
[Link] Concerns
[Link] Perception
[Link] Composition
For this project,we will use the process of Anerobic Digestion to
produce biogas and use that biogas to produce electricity.
What is Anerobic Digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by
which microorganisms break down biodegradable
material in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic
digestion occurs naturally in some soils and in lake
and oceanic basin sediments. Anaerobic digestion
produces biogas,which is rich in [Link]
biogas produced can be used as a fuel.
Process of Anaerobic
Digestion
The process of anaerobic digestion include these 4 main stages:
Hydrolysis: A chemical reaction where particulates are solubilized and large polymers
converted into simpler monomers;
Acidogenesis: A biological reaction where simple monomers are converted into volatile
fatty acids;
Acetogenesis: A biological reaction where volatile fatty acids are converted into acetic
acid, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
Methanogenesis: A biological reaction where acetates are converted into methane and
carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is consumed.
Materials
For this project,we will need the materials stated below:
[Link] container.
[Link] waste.
[Link].
[Link] sealent.
[Link] tubing.
[Link] to collect gas.
[Link] strips
[Link].
[Link].
[Link].
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] of inert gas.
Final Products
Anaerobic digestion usually give 3 main
products:
[Link],which can be used as fuel;
[Link] digestate that can be used as a
fertilizer;
[Link].
Conclusion
In conclusion, anaerobic digestion stands out as an
environmentally-friendly method for waste
management and energy production. By breaking
down organic waste in oxygen-free environments, it
efficiently produces biogas, a renewable energy
source, and digestate, a valuable fertilizer. This
process not only helps mitigate greenhouse gas
emissions but also promotes sustainable agricultural
practices. Adopting anaerobic digestion technology
is a forward-thinking step toward a cleaner, more
sustainable future, highlighting the importance of
innovative solutions in tackling global
environmental challenges.