Wastewater treatment plants across the country may one day turn sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.The technology — hydrothermal liquefaction — mimics the geological conditions the Earth uses to create crude oil, using high pressure and temperature to achieve in minutes something that takes Mother Nature millions of years.The resulting material is similar to petroleum pumped out of the ground, with a small amount of water and oxygen mixed in. This biocrude then can be refined using conventional petroleum refining operations.Wastewater treatment plants across the U.S. treat approximately 34
New Research Increases Feasibility of Creating Biocrude Oil from Sewage
A new approach studied by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory eliminates the need to dry biosolids before refining.
