IT202000026636A1 - BIOCELLA, PLANT AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORGANIC WASTE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION having the title

?Biocell, plant and method for the treatment of organic waste?

The present invention relates to a biocell for the treatment of organic waste. The present invention also relates to a plant comprising a plurality of of the aforementioned biocells and a method for the treatment of organic waste.

The term organic waste refers to organic waste, agricultural by-products, livestock sewage, waste from the agri-food industry, digestate from anaerobic digestion, purification sludge and other similar waste.

In other words, the present invention ? relating to the management of waste and by-products of the zootechnical and agro-industrial sectors. The waste management sector represents one of the most major global issues and represents a crucial challenge for the future. Disposal costs force public administrators and/or private entities to divert huge budget funds to manage the waste produced by local citizens, tourists and agro-industrial processes. Waste management? varied and complex, but that of the organic fraction? surely one of those that, if not managed correctly, pu? generate a large amount of problems.

In particular, does the organic waste management sector face a number of challenges? regulations that derive from the danger? of the treatment of a non-inert material which therefore interacts with the surrounding environment.

Currently, the technologies used for the management of organic waste (or organic matrices) are mainly aerobic composting and anaerobic digestion, and to a lesser extent waste-to-energy plants (such as incinerators) and landfills. These technologies are very expensive and difficult to manage and maintain, both in terms of occupational safety and as regards environmental problems, also linked to public health. The compost resulting from the treatment must in fact be free of pollutants and pathogens in order to be used as a soil amendment, otherwise it must be disposed of in landfills or incinerators.

Disadvantageously, the organic waste? a highly putrescible material, this means that it produces dangerous molecular compounds, unpleasant odors and ? attractive for a series of animals and insects which can be the vehicle of diseases and are often also pests.

Disadvantageously, both in the anaerobic digestion processes and in the aerobic composting processes, various greenhouse gases are also produced (water vapor and CO2) as well as other dangerous gases such as, for example, H2S and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Disadvantageously, due to degradation phenomena, there is the production of leachate, especially during the transport and storage phase, which is highly dangerous for soils and groundwater.

Disadvantageously, the compost produced? low quality?, remains in storage for long periods, especially in winter when the agricultural sector does not require it, and takes up space and sometimes becomes a cost because? it must be disposed of in landfills if it does not fall within the parameters of the law.

Disadvantageously, aerobic composting plants take up a lot of land, consume a lot of energy (about 70 kW for each ton of waste treated) and are very long processes and are often a source of bad smells as for some anaerobic processes.

Anaerobic digestion plants are much more? performing, produce little or no odors, occupy little soil, produce biogas (biomethane and carbon dioxide) that can? be burned to produce heat and electricity, or biomethane can? be refined and sold. Disadvantageously, anaerobic digestion plants are expensive plants, not suitable for use by small communities. mountains and small towns in general. In addition the waste introduced must be the pi? as fresh as possible to maximize biomethane production. The scraps that arrive from distant areas have in fact already? partly started to ferment with the consequence of reducing the capacity? production and with the formation of bad odors and leachate.

To date ? a new technique for managing organic waste is being developed which involves the use of soldier fly larvae. The use of the soldier fly allows you to treat organic waste very quickly, giving the final result of vermicompost free of pathogens.

However, the use of soldier fly larvae is not free from problems such as problems related to the breeding spaces of the flies and the high energy cost. Furthermore, the plants existing today use farms on the ground in concrete tanks resulting in the persistence of problems related to leachate, soil consumption and the high manpower required.

The technical task of the present invention is therefore that of providing a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste which are capable of overcoming one or more of the drawbacks emerging from the prior art.

The object of the present invention is therefore that of making available a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste which allow to significantly reduce energy and soil consumption.

A further object of the present invention is also that of making available a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste which allow to increase the economy? and process safety in order to make the treatment of organic waste economically sustainable both in the management of urban waste and agricultural by-products.

A further object of the present invention is also that of making available a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste which allow the production of secondary raw materials such as animal proteins, fuel oils, feed for animal feeding (e.g. example for the fish farming sector), compost and which allow the recovery of CO2.

The specified technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the joint claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

In particular, the specified technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a biocell for the treatment of organic waste comprising a main body defining a containment volume for a quantity of organic waste to be treated and comprising a rear wall, a front wall, two side walls, a bottom portion and an upper portion for closing the containment volume. The biocell also includes an upper entrance hole, located in the rear wall, configured for the insertion of soldier fly larvae and a quantity of organic waste to be treated by the soldier fly larvae in order to obtain vermicompost, upper exit holes for the soldier fly larvae placed in the rear wall and a lower exit hole for the vermicompost and excess waste material placed in the front wall .

Furthermore, the specified technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a plant for the treatment of organic waste comprising a plurality of? of biocells arranged in pairs along two parallel horizontal rows and a conveyor belt passing between each pair of biocells. The plurality? of cells have their respective front walls facing the conveyor belt so that the lower outlet hole of each biocell discharges the vermicompost and waste material onto the conveyor belt.

Preferably, each pair of biocells comprises further biocells arranged one above the other to define different height levels.

Furthermore, the specified technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a method for treating organic waste comprising the steps of providing a plurality of? of soldier fly larvae, prepare a quantity? of organic waste, enter the plurality? of larvae and the quantity? of organic waste in a respective biocell, dispose of the organic waste inside the biocell through the soldier fly larvae in order to obtain vermicompost, separate the soldier fly larvae from the vermicompost and any waste material, recover the soldier fly larvae and the vermicompost and any waste material. The disposal stage? carried out in a period of between fifteen and twenty days.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the indicative and therefore non-limiting description of an embodiment of a biocell, a plant and a method for the treatment of organic waste.

This description will set out below with reference to the attached drawings, provided for indicative and, therefore, non-limiting purposes only, in which: - Figure 1 ? a perspective view of a biocell object of the present invention;

- Figures 2A-2E are different views of the biocell of figure 1;

- Figure 3 ? a schematic view of a plant object of the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, with 1 ? was overall indicated a biocell for the treatment of organic waste which, for simplicity? of description will come hereinafter referred to as biocell 1.

The term organic waste refers to organic waste, agricultural by-products, livestock sewage, waste from the agri-food industry, digestate from anaerobic digestion, purification sludge and other similar waste.

The biocell 1 comprises a main body 2 defining a containment volume for a quantity of organic waste to be treated.

The main body 2 comprises a rear wall 2a, a front wall 2b, two side walls 2c, a bottom portion 2e and an upper closing portion 2f of the containment volume.

Preferably, the main body 2 ? made of PVC or other suitable plastic material and ? even more preferably dark in color and opaque. In other words, the main body 2 (ie biocell 1) ? made of dark plastic material.

Preferably, the upper closure portion 2f comprises a lid configured for the hermetic closure of the containment volume and comprising a plurality of of nozzles (not shown) for keeping the organic waste to be treated moist. In other words, biocell 1 ? hermetically closed in the upper closing portion 2f and the nozzles allow both the moist maintenance of the organic waste and the possibility? to recirculate any excess liquid that you can? accumulate at the base of biocell 1.

The main body 2 can? present the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped in the upper part while in the lower part it has the shape of a right prism. In the accompanying figures, the lower part has the shape of an oblique prism.

The dimensions of the main body 2 can vary according to the organic waste to be treated and its humidity.

The biocell 1 also comprises an upper inlet hole 3 located in the rear wall 2a.

The top entry hole? configured for the insertion of soldier fly larvae and the quantity? of organic waste to be treated by soldier fly larvae in order to obtain vermicompost. In other words, in a raised and centered portion of the rear wall 2a ? the upper inlet hole 3 is present which has the function of feeding the biocell 1 with the biomass to be treated.

The biocell 1 also comprises upper outlet holes 4 for the soldier fly larvae located in the rear wall 2a. As shown in the attached figures, the upper outlet holes 4 are arranged in a raised portion of the rear wall 2a and in a portion close to the side walls 2c. The upper outlet holes 4 are also configured to allow the exhaust air rich in CO2 and water vapor to exit. Preferably, the upper outlet holes 4 have a joint which conveys the soldier fly larvae downwards and the exhausted air to be removed upwards.

Preferably, the upper exit holes 4 comprise luminous LEDs 5 configured to attract the soldier fly larvae towards the upper exit holes 4. In particular, the soldier fly larvae are attracted to the light when ready to pupate. In other words, the luminous LEDs 5 represent the only source of light visible inside the biocell 1 by the soldier fly larvae so that, once the organic waste has been treated after a period of fifteen or twenty days, the larvae themselves are naturally attracted from the light once they are ready to reach the pupal stage.

Preferably, the biocell 1 comprises a ramp 6 for each of the upper outlet holes 4 which extends so as to connect the bottom portion 2e to the upper outlet holes 4. In this way, the ramps 6 allow the fly larvae to escape soldier once the organic waste treatment has been completed.

Preferably, each ramp 6 extends internally and along a respective side wall 2c of the main body 2.

The larvae autonomously ascend the ramp 6 at the exit of which they are collected.

Preferably, in an embodiment not shown, the luminous LEDs 5 can also be arranged along the ramps 6 so as to attract more people. soldier fly larvae easily.

Preferably, the bottom portion 2e comprises a series of holes 7 to house nozzles for blowing in the air and for discharging the leachate. The upper outlet holes 4 are also configured to allow the air to exit. The holes 7 at the base of the biocell 1 serve to insufflate the air inside the biocell 1 itself so that there is a correct quantity? of oxygen and there are no pockets of material with anoxic conditions.

Preferably, the nozzles are configured for the delivery of heated or cooled air in order to regulate the internal temperature of the biocell 1 according to the needs in relation to the period of the year or the organic waste contained in the biocell 1.

The biocell 1 also comprises a lower outlet hole 8 for the vermicompost and any excess waste material (such as for example liquid material and the like). The lower exit hole 8 ? placed in the anterior wall 2b. In other words, the lower exit hole 8 ? arranged in a lowered and central portion of the front wall 2b and allows the waste material to be discharged from the treatment of organic waste.

Preferably, the biocell 1 comprises an auger 9 (or other similar device such as a worm screw) configured for moving the vermicompost and excess liquid material from the bottom portion 2e of the main body to the lower outlet hole 8. Preferably, in the rear wall 2a pu? be present a further hole 8a through which ? possible to operate the auger 9 (or other similar device). In this way, the auger 9 allows residues to escape and, if the configuration of the bottom portion 2e is not flat but inclined, the digested material can be easily conveyed, avoiding accumulations. Preferably, the biocell 1 comprises a vibrating system configured to make the biocell 1 itself vibrate if there is residual material contained inside the biocell 1 once the vermicompost has come out.

Preferably, the biocell 1 comprises load cells for measuring the residual material.

Advantageously, the biocell 1 makes it possible to valorise and treat the organic waste, at the same time allowing for the safe rearing of the soldier fly larvae. The separation between larvae and vermicompost is simple and takes place in safety for the operators.

Advantageously, the vermicompost cos? obtained ? free of putrescible material and the air that is blown inside, to avoid anaerobic phenomena, is conveyed and safely removed to be filtered (by means of any biofilters) and possibly valorised. At the end of the process the larvae are collected and treated while the vermicompost is unloaded by means of the auger 9 to be sent to ripen, screened and then bagged and sold.

Advantageously, soldier fly larvae feed on organic waste, thus allowing for efficient disposal.

Furthermore, mowing and pruning can enter the diet of the larvae after treatment with microorganisms or enzymes that degrade lignocellulosic substances selected on site or purchased.

Advantageously, the biocell 1 described above allows the recovery of the CO2 produced during the lifespan of the larvae. The CO2 is sucked in and can? be conveyed inside photobioreactors to be used as a fertilizer for the production of photoautotrophic microorganisms. Additionally, CO2 is removed to avoid suffocating the soldier fly larvae.

Advantageously, from the soldier fly larvae bred inside the biocells 1 it is possible to obtain an oil rich in fatty acids and a mix of peptides and amino acids derived from animal proteins. From these substances? possible to produce biofuels and biolubricants. Alternatively, these substances can be used to obtain biopolymers in companies in the bioplastics and/or similar sector. When organic waste is different from waste or agricultural by-products, the pupae can be used as protein feed in fish farming.

Advantageously, chitosan and glucosamine are extracted from insect-derived waste. These products can be used in the fields of food supplements, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the waste from the treated insects can be reused as feed for the larvae used in the treatment of further organic waste.

Advantageously, the amendment derived from larval excrements can be used in agriculture as a soil conditioner or for the extraction of nutrients to be used for crops in a photobioreactor.

The present invention also relates to a plant 10 for treating organic waste.

The plant 10, schematized in figure 3, comprises a plurality of biocells 1 as previously described. The biocells 1 are arranged in pairs along two horizontal rows. Preferably, the biocells 1 can be arranged one on top of the other so as to increase the capacity of production of the plant 10. The distance between the biocells 1 ? dictated by a metal structure (not shown) that supports them. In other words, each pair of biocells 1 comprises further biocells 1 arranged one above the other to define different height levels.

The plant 10 also comprises a conveyor belt 11 passing between each pair of rows.

The plurality? of biocells 1 have their respective front walls 2b facing the conveyor belt so that the lower outlet hole 8 of each biocell 1 discharges the vermicompost and the liquid material onto the conveyor belt 11. Preferably, if the biocells 1 are arranged one on? the other ? for the upper biocells 1, an extension of the lower outlet hole 8 is foreseen which falls a short distance from the conveyor belt 11. This extension advantageously allows to avoid splashes or to raise dust from the conveyor belt 11.

The present invention also envisages making available a method for treating organic waste. This method? realized in a biocell 1 or a plant 10 as previously described.

The method provides for the provision of a plurality? of soldier fly larvae, prepare a quantity? of organic waste and enter the soldier fly larvae and the quantity? of organic waste in a respective biocell 1. In particular, the method provides for introducing the larvae and the organic waste through the upper inlet hole 3.

The method provides for the organic waste to be disposed of inside the biocell 1 (or each biocell 1 if there are more, such as for example in the plant 10) through soldier fly larvae so as to obtain vermicompost. This phase takes place for a period ranging from fifteen to twenty days in which the soldier fly larvae feed on the organic waste going to generate vermicompost. In addition, other waste material such as liquid material is produced during this stage.

This is followed by a phase of separation of the soldier fly larvae from the vermicompost (and the rest of the waste). This separation phase takes place with the emergence of the larvae from the upper exit holes 4, preferably with the ascent of the larvae via the ramps 6 when attracted by the luminous LEDs 5.

This is followed by a recovery phase of the soldier fly larvae from the upper outlet holes 4 and of the vermicompost and any waste material from the lower outlet hole 8 (or from the conveyor belt 11 if this method is implemented in a plant 10 as described above).

Preferably, the method pu? also include the steps for introducing air into the containment volume. This phase can be achieved by insufflation of heated or cooled air for the discharge of any leachate and temperature regulation. This is followed by a phase of recovery of the exhausted air from the containment volume, through the upper outlet holes 4. The CO2 and the water vapor thus? recovered can be used as a fertilizer for the production of photoautotrophic microorganisms.

Advantageously, the present invention ? capable of overcoming the drawbacks arising from the prior art.

Advantageously, the present invention allows a quick treatment and a complete valorisation of the organic waste since the duration of the process takes place in fifteen or twenty days.

Advantageously, the present invention makes it possible to breed non-pathogenic insects (Hermetia illucens) included in the European regulation which defines ?novel foods? and which, depending on the origin of the organic matter, can be used to produce biofuels and proteins for the plastics industry, or feed for zootechnics, right up to human consumption.

Advantageously, the present invention allows organic waste to be treated locally on the farm, avoiding costly transport and disposal costs with the production of compost and secondary raw materials (such as larvae).

Advantageously, the present invention allows the treatment of organic waste avoiding the production of leachate, bad smells and saving on transport and disposal of the waste.

Advantageously, the use of the biocells 1 allows to modulate the treatment process on the basis of the quantities? of organic waste to be treated. Advantageously, the production of biofuels and bioplastics makes it possible to free oneself from the use of raw materials from fossil sources.

Claims (11)

1. Biocell (1) for the treatment of organic waste comprising: - a main body (2) defining a containment volume for a quantity? of organic waste to be treated and comprising a rear wall (2a), a front wall (2b), two side walls (2c), a bottom portion (2e) and an upper closing portion (2f) of the containment volume; - an upper inlet hole (3), placed in said rear wall (2a), configured for the insertion of soldier fly larvae and of said quantity? of organic waste to be treated by means of said soldier fly larvae in order to obtain vermicompost; - upper exit holes (4) for said soldier fly larvae located in said rear wall (2a); - a lower outlet hole (8) for said vermicompost and any excess waste material placed in said front wall (2b). 2. Biocell (1) according to claim 1, comprising an auger (9) configured for moving the vermicompost and excess waste material from said bottom portion (2e) of the main body to said lower outlet hole (8) . 3. Biocell (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a ramp (6) for each of said upper outlet holes (4) extending so as to connect said bottom portion (2e) to said upper outlet holes (4 ) so as to allow the release of said soldier fly larvae once the treatment of the organic waste has been carried out, preferably each ramp (6) developing inside said containment volume along a respective side wall (2c) of the main body (2). 4. Biocell (1) according to claim 3, wherein said upper outlet holes (4) comprise luminous LEDs (5) configured to attract said soldier fly larvae towards said upper outlet holes (4). 5. Biocell (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom portion (2e) comprises a series of holes (7) to house air insufflation and leachate discharge nozzles and wherein said upper outlet holes (4) are also configured to allow the air to come out, preferably said nozzles (7) being configured for the delivery of heated or cooled air. 6. Biocell (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said upper closure portion (2f) comprises a lid configured for the hermetic closure of said containment volume and comprising a plurality of of nozzles for keeping the organic waste to be treated moist. 7. Biocell (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising a vibrating system configured to vibrate said biocell (1) if there is residual material in the biocell (1), preferably said biocell (1) comprising load cells for measuring said residual material. 8. Biocell (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (2) ? made of PVC or other plastics, preferably dark in color and opaque. 9. Plant (10) for the treatment of organic waste comprising a plurality of biocells (1), according to one or more? of the preceding claims, arranged in pairs along two parallel horizontal rows and a conveyor belt (11) passing between said pairs of biocells (1), said plurality? of biocells (1) having their respective front walls (2b) facing said conveyor belt (11) so that the lower outlet hole (8) of each biocell (1) unloads said vermicompost and waste material onto said conveyor belt (11), preferably each pair of biocells (1) comprising further biocells (1) arranged one on top of the other to define different height levels. 10. Method for the treatment of organic waste, in a biocell (1) according to one or more? of claims 1-8 or in a plant (10) according to claim 9, comprising the steps of: - prepare a plurality? soldier fly larvae; - prepare a quantity? of organic waste; - enter said plurality? of larvae and said quantity? of organic waste in a respective biocell (1); - disposing of said organic waste inside said bio-cell through soldier fly larvae so as to obtain vermicompost, said disposal step being carried out in a period of between fifteen and twenty days; - separating said soldier fly larvae from said vermicompost and any waste material; - recover said soldier fly larvae and said vermicompost and any waste material. 11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: - introducing air into said containment volume, preferably heated or cooled air; - to expel exhausted air from said containment volume.