Opportunities for Biomass and Organic Waste Valorisation

Linda Godfrey is a Principal Scientist with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Associate Professor at Northwest University, South Africa.Johann F Görgens is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.Henry Roman is the Director of Environmental Services and Technologies at the National Department of Science and Technology, South Africa.

• Part 1: Quantifying organic waste in South Africa 1. Overview of potential sources and volumes of waste biomass in South Africa 2. Identification and characterisation of typical solid biowaste residues in South Africa: Potential feedstocks for waste-to-energy technologies Part 2: Biological treatment 3. Evaluation of the applicability of draft national norms and standards for organic waste composting facilities on landfill sites 4. A biorefinery approach to improve the sustainability of the South African sugar industry: An assessment of selected scenarios 5. Integrated waste management approach: Use of Acti-zyme for municipal sewage treatment and recovery of biogas and biosolids 6. Biogas production from blood and rumen content of sheep slaughtering waste under ambient conditions 7. Optimisation of biogas production by co-digestion of domestic animal waste 8. Integrated bioremediation and beneficiation of biobased waste streams Part 3: Mechanical and chemical treatment 9. Beneficiation of sawdust waste in the context of an integrated forest biorefinery mill: Kraft and pre-hydrolysis kraft pulping properties 10. Development of sustainable biobased polymer and bio-nanocomposite materials using nanocellulose obtained from agricultural biomass 11. Valorisation of mango seeds via extraction of starch: Using response surface methodology to optimise the extraction process Part 4: Thermal treatment 12. Evaluation of different municipal solid waste recycling targets in South Africa in terms of energy recovery and CO2 reduction