Waste water treatment from agro-based biomass waste upgrading - Pollutants elimination associated to energy generation

The present situation, where agro-industries have to get ride of their wastes is source of huge pollution in tropical countries. The development of a new high value added pyrolysis product will have a positive impact on the emission of greenhouse effect gases because most of the time these wastes are badly incinerated. Due to limited technical options and high investment cost options, these industries don't implement air treatment and particularly water treatment systems. Waste waters are just rejected into rivers or pounds, creating large environmental damages and diseases for the surrounding population. The objective of our works is to develop a now biomass waste upgrading integrated pathway with high added value for water treatment and pollutants elimination, consisting in : - Pyro1ysis of biomass waste under specific conditions in order to allow direct activation of carbohydrate structure of biomass able to fix organic pollutants Waste water treatment with the development of a new process based on Activated Carbon Matrix (ACM) - Pollutant elimination through a gas/solid/liquid dispersion of saturated pyrolysis product incineration -Energy recovery from the incineration process for heat and/or power generation. First results of the research ongoing at CIRAD-Forêt have enlightened the large influence of the raw material and of the heating rate during carbonization on pore structure and the total surface area. On the other hand, the adaptation of UTC patent for the incineration of solid-liquid phase polluted slurry will alow the total destruction of the pollutants and energy recovery from the exhaust gas. Former research carried out by UTC and CIRAD have shown the feasibility of this option. The development of a ACM production adapted to small scale industries requirements should open new market and real prospect for the reduction of water pollution from these industries. (Résumé d'auteur)