Adding Value to Solid Waste

From a purely economic perspective, industrial wastes can no longer be considered “wastes” but rather “untapped resources”.

While reducing the amount of waste generated is the first priority, even the most efficient manufacturing processes create surplus materials that end up in waste streams.

The future sustainability of industrial production depends on the smart utilisation of these residues both for adding value and mitigating environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions.

Scion is developing new processes and technologies to convert waste materials into value-added products.

Key capabilities:

• Process and chemical engineering
• Bioreaction engineering
• Environmental biotechnology/molecular biology
• Organic and analytical chemistry
• Green catalysis
• Wastewater treatment
• Life cycle assessment
• Land application of biowastes
• Organic contaminants in soil
• Social research and its integration with biophysical, cultural, and economic considerations to achieve sustainable solutions.

Examples

TERAX^TM hydrothermal deconstruction:  Waste 2 Gold

As part of the Waste 2 Gold programme, Scion has developed the TERAX^TM hydrothermal deconstruction technology that converts municipal sewage or wastewater into energy and useful products. A large-scale pilot plant trial of the technology is being tested at Rotorua District Council’s Wastewater Treatment facility. 

Scion has recently formed a partnership with ESR and Landcare Research to create a collaborative research programme entitled “Closing the loop – Rebuilding our soils with biowastes”.

Commercial opportunities

Scion is working with municipal authorities to derive value-added products from biosolid wastes and to utilise land application of biosolids in plantation forests.

We are keen to work with investors seeking to develop ways of utilising other solid organic wastes.