By Erin Voegele
Web exclusive posted March 20, 2009, at 1:38 p.m. CST
EcoSystem Corp. is working to develop a bioreactor technology that utilizes black soldier fly larva to convert food scrap waste into natural oils, which can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production and specialty chemical applications. The natural oil that is produced has been trademarked by the company as MAGFUEL.
The larva would be raised in contained bioconversion facilities which would be located in close proximity to major sources of food scrap waste, said Glen Courtright, EcoSystem's president and chief executive officer. Courtright said the company envisions setting up a series of these facilities that are scaled to match each market's available feedstock output. Potential feedstock suppliers could include large-scale industrial food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants and caterers, slaughter houses, and facilities producing agricultural waste.
The larva housed in the bioconversion facilities would consume food waste, and be processed to extract their naturally produced oil, or MAGFUEL. The company has estimated that the dry weight of the larva consists of approximately 42 percent protein and 35 percent natural oils. When running at full capacity, it's estimated the technology could yield up to 190,000 gallons of crude natural oils per acre of bioreactor surface area each year. In comparison, soybeans yield an average of 40 gallons of oil per acre annually. The company also estimated the technology could be deployed at a cost of less than $100 per square foot.
EcoSystem Corp. is working to develop a bioreactor technology that utilizes black soldier fly larva to convert food scrap waste into natural oils, which can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production and specialty chemical applications. The natural oil that is produced has been trademarked by the company as MAGFUEL.
The larva would be raised in contained bioconversion facilities which would be located in close proximity to major sources of food scrap waste, said Glen Courtright, EcoSystem's president and chief executive officer. Courtright said the company envisions setting up a series of these facilities that are scaled to match each market's available feedstock output. Potential feedstock suppliers could include large-scale industrial food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants and caterers, slaughter houses, and facilities producing agricultural waste.
The larva housed in the bioconversion facilities would consume food waste, and be processed to extract their naturally produced oil, or MAGFUEL. The company has estimated that the dry weight of the larva consists of approximately 42 percent protein and 35 percent natural oils. When running at full capacity, it's estimated the technology could yield up to 190,000 gallons of crude natural oils per acre of bioreactor surface area each year. In comparison, soybeans yield an average of 40 gallons of oil per acre annually. The company also estimated the technology could be deployed at a cost of less than $100 per square foot.
Courtright said the oil would be extracted from the larva using existing rendering technology, which would produce two main products – lipids and a high protein product suitable for use as an aquaculture feed. In addition, the fly larva would produce castings at the bioconversion facility that can be used to fertilize soil. The technology produces virtually no waste products.
According to data published by the USDA Economic Research Service in 2007, approximately 27 percent of the 356 billion pounds of edible food available for human consumption in the U.S. was lost during farm, processing, and retail stages of marketing. EcoSystem estimated that 25 percent of the volume of retail, restaurant, and industrial-generated food waste could be converted into black soldier fly larva using this technology. Based upon information the company sourced from U.S. 2010 Census data, up to 100 MMgy of MAGFUEL could be produced and sold to U.S. biodiesel producers using this technology.
EcoSystem intends to market the trademarked MAGFUEL into the existing biodiesel industry as a blending agent for lower grade biodiesel feedstocks, such as white grease, tallow and yellow grease. According to Courtright, the company is currently working to develop a pilot facility, which is expected to begin operations later this year.
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According to data published by the USDA Economic Research Service in 2007, approximately 27 percent of the 356 billion pounds of edible food available for human consumption in the U.S. was lost during farm, processing, and retail stages of marketing. EcoSystem estimated that 25 percent of the volume of retail, restaurant, and industrial-generated food waste could be converted into black soldier fly larva using this technology. Based upon information the company sourced from U.S. 2010 Census data, up to 100 MMgy of MAGFUEL could be produced and sold to U.S. biodiesel producers using this technology.
EcoSystem intends to market the trademarked MAGFUEL into the existing biodiesel industry as a blending agent for lower grade biodiesel feedstocks, such as white grease, tallow and yellow grease. According to Courtright, the company is currently working to develop a pilot facility, which is expected to begin operations later this year.
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Process Converts Food Scrap Waste into Natural Oils with Greater Yields than Soy NEW YORK--(Business Wire)-- EcoSystem Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: ESYM) today announced its MAGFUEL biofuel feedstock model. EcoSystem will apply its bioreactor technology to convert food scrap waste into natural oils for biodiesel feedstock and specialty chemical applications. The key to EcoSystem`s bioreactor technology is the use of the Black Soldier Fly. When at full capacity, Black Soldier Fly food scrap waste conversion technology could yield up to 190,000 gallons of crude (non-food) natural oils per acre of bioreactor surface area annually. In comparison, soybean yields an average of 40 gallons of oil per acre annually. EcoSystem`s integrated bioreactor is estimated to be deployed at a cost of less than $100 per square foot with minimal use of utilities for other than periodic cleaning and heating. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the annual food scrap waste generated per capita in the U.S. is 1,678 pounds, of which 11% are food scraps. 40% to 50% of nearly all food harvested never gets consumed according to the University of Arizona`s Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology. Nationwide, household food waste adds up to $43 billion per year. Residential households waste an average of 14% of their food purchases, and fifteen percent of that includes products still within their expiration date but never opened. EcoSystem estimates that 25% of the volume of retail, restaurant, and industrial generated food waste could be converted into Black Soldier Fly larvae. Based upon U.S. 2010 Census data, up to 100 million gallons per year of MAGFUEL natural oils could be produced and sold to U.S. biodiesel producers using EcoSystem technology. "Competitively-priced feedstock has always been a challenge for the biodiesel industry" says Glen Courtright, President and CEO of EcoSystem. "We are excited to develop this competitively priced, high quality feedstock to the biodiesel industry by diverting food scrap waste from landfills. We are in discussions now with a number of very interested early-adopter partners for co-location of our bioreactor technology." EcoSystem will market the MAGFUEL into the existing biodiesel industry as a blending agent for lower grade biodiesel feedstocks (e.g., choice white grease, tallow, and yellow grease) which have poor cold flow properties and high cetane values. The larvae dry weight consists of about 42% protein and 35% natural oils. The natural oil derived from the Black Soldier Fly Larvae is comprised of the following constituents: 1.6% capric acid; 53.2% lauric acid, 6.6% myristic acid, 8.4% palmitic acid, 1.7% stearic acid, 12.4% oleic acid, and 8.8% linoleic acid. EcoSystem`s revenue model will be driven by tipping fees for accepting and processing food scrap waste, MAGFUEL, and other product sales. EcoSystem`s Black Soldier Fly bioreactor technology can convert a diverse array of feedstocks, including poultry and swine manure, livestock processing wastes, and food scrap waste. Black Soldier Flies are clean, energy-efficient and voracious. They rapidly consume large quantities of feed during maturation and have a high tolerance against contaminants that would cripple algae and other bioreactor technologies.
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