Texas A&M researcher proposes process to transform biomass waste into fuels and chemicals

In Texas, Texas A&M University reported that Mark Holtzapple, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, has spent more than three decades creating a method to convert biomass into essential fuels and chemicals, such as jet fuel and acetic acid. “Rather than disposing of biomass waste in a landfill, we can use this renewable resource as a raw material,” said Holtzapple. “This can significantly impact society by providing a valuable way to utilize wastes, which helps the environment, addresses global warming, enhances human health and alleviates the need for fossil fuels.” Holtzapple refers to his method as the MixAlco process. In his process, biomass — waste paper, municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, animal manure, food scraps or purpose-grown energy crops — is added to a plastic or concrete tank. The biomass is inoculated with soil, which naturally contains microorganisms that decompose the biomass into organic acids ranging from two-carbon acetic acid to eight-carbon octanoic acid. “This process can transform biomass into almost any fuel or chemical currently made from oil and natural gas,” Holtzapple said. “These findings allow us to convert biomass wastes to useful products that benefit the environment and society.”

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