Biofuels from fish waste from remote fish processing plants in Newfoundland and Labrador

Jayasinghe, Punyama (2010) Biofuels from fish waste from remote fish processing plants in Newfoundland and Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (45MB)

Abstract

Biofuels derived from waste and recycled oils are gaining attention throughout the world. Deriving biofuels from fish waste and use on-site can have a number of advantages in areas of substantial fish processing such as Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, the waste is sent to landfill and/or discharged to the ocean. Depending on the fish species, between 3-25% of the waste is oil. However, composition, stability, degree of processing required, and end use will determine feasibility of use. Fish processing plants in Atlantic Canada are remotely located, making recovery of the oil for export for fuel use unattractive economically or environmentally. On-site use is likely the most sustainable option for reducing the impacts of waste discharge and, reducing emissions and costs for petroleum fuels use and transport. -- The study is conducted to determine the feasibility and impacts of using fish waste derived biofuel as a blend for use on-site, in the community, or in marine vessels. Waste from three fish processing plants was characterized for chemical composition, stability, and partitioning. A process to separate and purify the oil from the waste was developed by modifying the fishmeal process. Recovered oil was analyzed for physical properties such as; density, viscosity, melting properties and specific heat capacity, and chemical composition was analyzed for sulphur content, lipid classes, and fatty acids. Using energy consumption and oil recoverability data for the proposed process, an overall life cycle analysis is conducted for estimating reductions in gaseous and GHG emissions, and solid/liquid waste discharge to the ocean. Emission studies were carried out for in-plant use in furnaces, stationary diesel engines and residential boilers.

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