Transcript Process

A Sustainable Biosolids
Process & Fertilizer Product
Dana G Taylor and Jeffrey C Burnham, Ph.D.
 Long-term effective biosolids solution
 High-value slow-release fertilizer
 Green sustainable business
The Biosolids Solution – Sustainability
61 MM ton U.S.
Fertilizer
Market Need
Growing
Population
Requiring
Increased
Crop
Production
AM
7.5 MM ton U.S.
Biosolids
Process
Production
Increasingly
Limited
Disposal
Options
Enhanced Efficiency
Fertilizer
Class A+/EQ Slow-release N
Granulation
Processing
Nearly odorless
Crop effective
Competitive
Ag economics
Key
of Business Model
KeyAspects
Approaches
 Do not transport biosolids cake very far
 Utilize a safe Class AA biosolids treatment
 Construct modular plants
 Emphasize redundancy
 Manufacture a valuable marketable product
 Be community positive
Create Value With Biosolids
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Recover value from biosolids
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Nitrogen
Micronutrients
Organics
Amino acids
Manufacture saleable enhanced-efficiency fertilizer
Increased crop production value
Create GREEN value: Reduction in GHG
emissions for biosolids treatment and
fertilizer manufacture
Biosolids Containing Enhanced Efficiency
Fertilizer
 HIGH‐NUTRIENT
SLOW‐RELEASE FERTILIZER
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16‐0‐2‐17‐3‐16 (N‐P‐K‐S‐Fe‐Org)
 Characteristics:
• Spherical granules;
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260/120/80 SGN
6-8 # hardness
Dry - >98% solids
no biosolids odor
 Application rates:
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The Ammonium Mix (“AM”) Technology
• Conversion of biosolids to high nitrogen granular
fertilizer
– Reacts concentrated acid and anhydrous ammonia with
biosolids for a two step heat drying process
– Couples nutrients to biosolids organic molecules to
create a slow-release fertilizer
• Key is long reaction times under heat and
pressure.
• Incorporation of high plant nutrient value
• Use of nutrient chemicals that positively reduce
odorants
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The Ammonium Mix (“AM”) Process
Dewatered Biosolids
Conditioning:
Controlled reaction
time, pressure and high
temperatures for
dewatering, disinfection,
hydrolysis of molecules.
Pugmill
Convert to paste-like material
Fe addition
Hydrolysis
Vessels
Ammonia & H2SO4
Binding Agents
Recycle
Granulator / Dryer
Screens
Condensed water return to WWTP
Cooling
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Coating
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Storag
e
Field Crop Trials
 Tomatoes & Peppers (Univ of Florida)
 Turf (Bermuda; Rye) (Mississippi State Univ)
 Corn (Arise Research Station, IN)
 Golf course greens (Mississippi State Univ &
SEP, FL)
 Watermelons (Purdue Univ)
 Winter Wheat
MSU Greens Project (Creeping Bentgrass – 1/23/12)
with average Digital Color Ratings
Milorganite – 5.8
Urea – 7.0
Control – 4.2
VitAg – 7.2
Nature Safe – 6.2
Independent Testing Demonstrates Agronomic Benefits
on Crops
Commentary
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High quality commercial fertilizer for a broad array of
crops
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Especially productive in turf
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Promotes yield by reducing crop stress (i.e. heat and
drought);enhances plant vigor with better root
structure.
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Enhanced slow-release properties
Source: Arise Research Station and Discovery
Tomato Fruit Weight as Influenced
by N Source
B
A
B
Tomato Yield Improvement Research at 84 Days
Fruit Weight (g)
500
458
400
318
300
266
200
100
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Commercial
4-10-6 1000 #/a
17-0-28 1800 #/a
17-0-28 1800 #/a
Source: University of Florida
VitAg 50/50 KNO3
10-6 1000 #/a
VitAg 1000 #/a
KNO3 1000 #/a
NH3NO3 235 #/a
4-
VitAg 25/75
4-10-6 1000 #/a
VitAg
470 #/a
KNO3 1114 #/a
Control
0
VitAg 50/50
VitAg 25/75
Commercial
N Source
Control
C
Sustainable Energy Benefits Of VitAg
Tons of CO2 per
Ton of Biosolids
Processes
• Sustainable energy created through agriculture
• Lower carbon process footprint (GHG emissions)
Incinerator
Thermal
Dryer
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Process
Gould et al., WEF 2011
VitAg Plant -- Zellwood, FL
July 2014
VitAg’s AM Plant For Zellwood, FL
VitAg Zellwood, FL Project
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100% Plant Engineering (CDMSmith)
Permits for Orange Cty, FL and State of FL
EPC contract with guarantees
Fully Funded - Notice to Proceed issued (7/12/14)
Purchased 62 acres in Zellwood, FL
Signed 20 year biosolids supply contract
VitAg Zellwood/Orlando, FL Site
VitAg’s AM Plant Design For Zellwood
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VitAg’s AM Plant Design For Zellwood
VitAg’s AM Plant Design – Process Air Control
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THANK YOU!