A Pollution-Free System for the Economic Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste For the City of New York. Phase I. A Critical Assessment of Advanced Technology. II:Biochemical Conversion Processes,

摘要

An integrated system is developed for the pollution-free utilization of the municipal refuse generated by New York City for optimum recovery of energy and useful products. Four position papers have been prepared to assess advanced technology applicable to solid waste management. This report is concerned with Position Paper 2:Biochemical Conversion Processes. Emphasis is given to economic analyses of processes of proven technical feasibility which lead to products having a market volume somewhat commensurate with the prodigious supply of mixed municipal refuse (MMR). The following processes are examined and evaluated:accelerated composting;biochemical fractionation processes comprising acid hydrolysis of cellulose to sugars with subsequent fermentation to ethanol and to single-cell protein;and biochemical digestion of garbage-freighted sewage in conjunction with on site segregation and hydraulic collection of food waste. Major obstacles to the greater utilization of biochemical conversions are outlined. This paper limits its appraisal of biochemical conversion processes to the use of ethanol as industrial ethyl alcohol,the digestion of cellulose hydolysate derived from MMR into yeast protein for use as animal feed,and the biochemical oxidation of garbage-freighted sewage in modified sewage treatment facilities.