(625ai) An Appropriate Technology Based Multifunctional Processor for Sustainable Production of Green Chemistry Based Products

As underdeveloped countries seek advancement, the use of appropriate technology to produce energy and fuels will be important. Feedstocks such as biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW) can serve as renewable resources with the potential to be transformed into clean fuels, biochar, non-synthetic pesticides, and other green chemistry based products. Many industrial processes exist for converting biomass and MSW into these products. However, very few, efficient methods exist for production of these items in underdeveloped regions where access to modern technological infrastructure is minimal. The University of Kentucky Appropriate Technology and Sustainability (UKATS) research team has developed a multi-function processor that can be used to produce biodiesel, biochar and a non-synthetic pesticide from biomass and kerosene and diesel fuel from waste plastic in rural and underdeveloped regions around the world. The processor, built using the principles of appropriate technology and sustainability fundamentals, is a simple, non-automated processor that uses non-standard construction materials typically present in under-developed regions, while keeping costs at a minimum. The research presented in this paper details the processor design and its operation in the production of biodiesel, diesel, kerosene, biochar, and non-synthetic pesticide. This research will present the results of the implementation of this processor in Cameroon and in India.  This project has been developed in collaboration with the African Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (ACREST) in Bangang, Cameroon and the Organization for Action Development and Maintenance (ODAM) in Tamil Nadu, India.