Objective
Objectives
In order to establish a truly sustainable thermal utilization of biomass, it is necessary not only to close the CO2 cycle, which is possible through a sustainable wood culture, but also to close the natural cycle by recycling the ash. Previous
research has shown that total recycling of wood ash leads to environmental pollution by heavy metal deposition in the
forest ecosystem. Consequently, it is necessary to separate a small side stream, as rich in heavy metals as possible, in
order to be able to utilize the maximum amount of wood ash
produced. The more effectively this heavy metal fractionation works in practice, the higher the concentration of heavy
metals in the small separated ash fraction. Following this
approach, a stable closed-cycle economy could be realized.
Technical Approach
This project focuses on the following main points:
- Standardization of methods for taking ash and fuel samples, for sample preparation (homogenization)and for the complete
detection of elements in ashes and biofuels in order to
guarantee comparable results between the project partners.
- Test runs to investigate the potential of fractionated
heavy metal separation in two straw incinerators, one wood-fired CFB-combustion, one wood-fired downdraft gasification
and one bark-fired BFB-gasification plant.
- Basic research on modeling high temperature equilibrium and the condensation/aerosol formation of easily volatile heavy
metals in flue gases of combustion/gasification plants in
order to explain the experimental results and to derive
functional correlations. This modeling will be supported by
pilot plant experiments for parameter adaptation.
- Basic laboratory research on the potential for heavy metal recovery from highly contaminated fly-ash fractions by thermal ash treatment and bio-leaching in order to recycle raw
materials and to avoid ash disposal.
- Calculation of ecological and economical impacts for the
process of thermal energy utilization and for the ecosystems concerned by stream analyses for minerals and heavy metals and by using dynamic compartment models for the impact of ash
recycling on soils, plants and the ground water.
Expected achievements and exploitation
- Standardized sampling, sample preparation and analysis of trace elements in biomass fuels and ashes will be developed. - Techniques for fractionation of heavy metals in
combustion/gasification plant as well as the possibility of
treatment of highly contaminated ash fractions by thermal
treatment or/and bio-leaching will be suggested.
- Two partners (a SME and a large enterprise) will utilize
the results of this project for the construction of new
plants.
- Development of ready-to-use models for high temperature
equilibrium calculations for heavy metals and for particle and aerosol formation in combustion /gasification processes and
for the general economic and ecological evaluation of biomass ash utilisation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels biomass energy
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation bioleaching
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials biofuels
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries forestry
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
8010 Graz
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.