Doha: Businesses need to embrace modular and scalable platforms that are based on new emerging technologies to reduce the impact of carbon footprint for cleaner, better, and sustainable tomorrow.
The Ministry of Municipality organised ‘3rd Recycling Towards Sustainability Conference & Exhibition’ which highlighted waste management, recycling, and sustainability. Aisha Hamad Al Rumaihi, Phd student at HBKU in field of sustainable and energy discussed her research on pyrolysis technology to produce biochar and other bi products such as oil and gas.
She said,“The population has increased in the last few years which is associated with the generation and accumulation of more waste. The carbon footprint of the entire plastic value chain in the world is estimated to be 850 metric ton and with the current levels of planned and estimated growth overall emissions from plastic production could double by 2030 and quadruple by 2050 to an estimated 2800 metric ton.”
Speaking about the use of ‘pyolysis technology’ she noted that improper solid waste management has led to increasing GHG emissions and climate change. New emerging technologies are needed to handle solid waste and convert them into fuel and other products that can add value to the society and economy. So, pyrolysis has emerged over the years one of the cost effective, scalable and simplest technologies.
She explained that pyrolysis is a complex, multi-step process by which organic matter is thermally disintegrated under the effect of controlled application of heat within varying temperature ranges that provide the energy required to decompose the feedstock’s chemical structure.
“The type of waste that we are analysing or decomposing using this technology is date pits and camel manure. Al Rumaihi elaborated that as Qatar is home to 127,000 racing camels, hence we are producing 0.9448 tonnes of camel manure per year.
Additionally, the country produces around 29,000 tons of dates every year, so we are generating alot of date pits. Due to the approximate structure of the manure and date pits are very beneficial in terms of producing a biochar which we apply to the soil and will enhance its quality,” she added.
Elaborating about the reason for using pyrolysis technology in Qatar, she said, Qatar has an arid desert climate and sandy soil with high salinity levels, low amounts of nutrients.
Seawater is the most important source of water for the people, accounting for about half of the water used. Water is desalinated through a costly and energy-intensive thermal process.
Hence by using pyrolysis technology it will transfer that and treat solid waste in Qatar and will help in meeting water, energy and food security. So, once“we treat the waste we will have the bio char and we will apply it to the soil.
She also explained about some of the benefits of biochar production and application in Qatar soil which include firstly, soil improvements that is it will enhance the crop yield by improving soil ertility, increase concentration of organic carbon, improve soil aeration and microbial ecology, and enhance soil pH for better plant growth.
Secondly, water management – it will increase water retention and hence reducing water usage.
Thirdly, for environmental benefits – it will lock the carbon emissions from the soil and reduce GHGs emissions.
The two-day event was held under the slogan“Together We Make the Difference for a Sustainable Future” for exchanging expertise and experiences about the latest methods and technologies in the field of waste recycling and treatment.
Over 35 waste recycling and management experts addressed several sessions at the conference.
An associated exhibition hosting 40 pavilions showcased the latest technologies, products, and services in the field of waste management and recycling.
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