A dream technology, aiming to save energy and reduce
criteria pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH) in flue gas pollutant emissions by using wastewater
emulsified fuel oil (WWOEF), has been proved on industrial
boiler at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU).
This technology is undergone
patenting process, and a listed company in Taiwan is
negotiating technology transfer with NCKU. It is estimated
that in half a year this green energy technique can be
applied in mass production.
This technology, developed by a
green energy R & D team led by Prof. Wen-Jhy Lee, Department
of Environmental Engineering at NCKU, is sponsored by
National Science Council in Taiwan. After seven years of
brewing and experimenting with this innovative idea, the
result is published in the January 1st, 2008 issue of
Environmental Science and Technology, a bimonthly academic
journal published by the American Chemical Society.
The researchers used wastewater
to make an emulsified oil (wastewater content 20% with 0.1%
surfactant) to evaluate the extent of reductions in both
criteria pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
compared with heavy oil fuel and water emulsified oil. The
result showed that the wastewater emulsified fuel oil could
significantly reduce particulate matter (PM), NOx, SO2, and
CO as compared to heavy fuel oil and similar to those from
water/oil emulsified fuel.
The reductions of total PAH flue
gas emissions are 38 and 30% for wastewater and
water-emulsified fuel, respectively, and 63 and 44% for
total toxic equivalence (BaPeq), respectively.
In addition to reducing flue gas
pollutant emissions, this technique also makes safe disposal
of industrial wastewater and saves about 13% of energy in
boiler operation, making WWOEF highly suitable for use in
boilers. In monetary terms, if this technique can by applied
worldwide, huge energy and wealth can be saved, which is
indeed a rescue in time for the current state of this planet.