JOM DOI: 10.1007/s11837-012-0378-1 Ó 2012 TMS

Closing Material Loops: The (QKDQFHG/DQG¿OO0LQLQJ&RQFHSW Partners P.T. Jones, D. Geysen, Y. Tielemans, Y. Pontikes, B. Blanpain, in Progress B. Mishra, and D. Apelian

706KDVIRUJHGFRRSHUDWLYHDJUHHPHQWVZLWKVHYHUDOFDUHIXOO\VHOHFWHGRUJDQL]DWLRQVWKDWDFWLYHO\ZRUNWREHQH¿WWKHPDWHULDOV science community. In this occasional series, JOM will provide an update on the activities of these organizations. This installment, by the Center for & (CR3),IRFXVHVRQ(QKDQFHG/DQG¿OO0LQLQJ7KH&HQWHUIRU5HVRXUFH5HFRYHU\ & Recycling is a research center established by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, and K.U. Leuven.

In a circular economy material loops be simultaneously or consecutively include the development of recipes to need to be closed by direct recycling DGGUHVVHGE\LQVLWXDQGH[VLWXODQG¿OO WUDQVIRUPODQG¿OOUHVLGXHV HJVODJV  of pre-consumer manufacturing / approaches. into high added-value products (e.g., con- residues, of post-consumer In Figure 1 the various steps in the struction materials) and transformational (QGRI/LIHSURGXFWVDQGODQG¿OOPLQLQJ ODQG¿OOPLQLQJRSHUDWLRQDUHGHSLFWHG technologies to prepare a solid recovered of historic (and future) urban Essential for business planning is a fuel (SRF) that can be processed in a streams. The third approach, which detailed knowledge of the content. waste-to-energy installation. The frac- WUDQVIRUPVODQG¿OOVIURPDPDMRUFRVWWR 0RVWODQG¿OOVODFNGHWDLOHGUHJLVWUDWLRQ tions that are not directly recoverable society into a resource recovery oppor- requiring exploration of the content.4 are sent to temporary storage. Concur- tunity, has received surprisingly little 3ULRUWRUHVRXUFHUHFRYHU\IURPODQG¿OOV rently, as shown in Figure 1, the still attention. Krook1GH¿QHGODQG¿OOPLQLQJ conditioning of the material is necessary embryonic temporary storage concept as “a process for extracting materials LQRUGHUWRHQDEOHFRVWHI¿FLHQWPLQLQJ is also relevant for future waste streams or other solid natural resources from DQGUHGXFHULVNVUHODWHGWRODQG¿OOUHXVH from the technosphere. As is the case waste materials that previously have Conditioning encompasses both pre- for currently non-recoverable fractions been disposed of by burying them in the treatment for immediate mining, such from the waste-to-material (WtM) plants JURXQG´/DQG¿OOPLQLQJKDGLWVJHQXLQH as measures preventing dust and odor these new streams (e.g., crushed lamps, start only in the 1990s, in most cases problems, and in-situ transformation to a asbestos) can also be stored in view of limited to extraction of methane, partial WHPSRUDU\VWRUDJH,QPRVWODQG¿OOVQRW future valorization, whenever technolo- recovery of valuable metals and/or land only are a number of critical compounds gies are mature and/or economic viability reclamation.1–3/DQG¿OOPLQLQJVWUDWHJLHV SUHVHQWEXWDOVRVSHFL¿FVLWXDWLRQVVXFK for the resource recovery procedure is are now being further developed with a as mechanical instability, high ascertained. clear view on resource recovery. These level, and areas with reduced perme- The ELFM concept has been under can be subdivided in two main categories. ability have to be addressed.5 Through development since 2008 within the )LUVW LQVLWX ODQG¿OO PLQLQJ UHIHUV WR LQVLWXWUHDWPHQWWKHODQG¿OOLVHIIHFWLYHO\ Flemish ELFM Consortium. This resource recovery activities (e.g., meth- transformed into a temporary storage transdisciplinary consortium of experts DQHH[WUDFWLRQZKLFKRFFXURQWKHODQG¿OO place6 (double arrow in Figure 1). The was established in Flanders (in northern site without excavating the stored waste ¿UVWLGHDVUHODWHGWRWKHFRQFHSWRIWKH %HOJLXP WRLQWHJUDWHODQG¿OOLQJLQDQ VWUHDPV6HFRQGH[VLWXODQG¿OOPLQLQJ temporary storage date back to 1999. This integrated, systemic resource recovery involves resource recovery by partially or concept needs to be developed further to SUDFWLFH&XUUHQWO\(/)0LVGH¿QHGDV fully excavating the waste materials for allow implementation in such a way that “the safe conditioning, excavation and further treatment. The relevant strategy these resource sites are environmentally integrated valorization of (historic and/or depends on intrinsic parameters, such as and structurally safe, already permitting IXWXUH ODQG¿OOHGZDVWHVWUHDPVDVERWK the size, location, age, type, composition in-situ recovery of energy, soil, ground- materials (waste-to-material, WtM) and and available documentation level of water, land and nature, and allowing energy (waste-to-energy, WtE), using WKHWDUJHWHGODQG¿OODVZHOODVH[WULQVLF future ex-situ resource recovery. If the innovative transformation technolo- parameters such as availability of suitable ODQG¿OORUSDUWRILWFDQEHH[VLWXPLQHG gies and respecting the most stringent technologies and societal and economic then the next step is to develop tailored social and ecological criteria.” The boundary conditions. For instance, separation techniques for the excavated “integrated” aspect refers to a maximum ODQG¿OOV FRQWDLQLQJ ODUJH IUDFWLRQV RI PDWHULDOV ,QQRYDWLYH VHSDUDWLRQ ÀRZ valorization of materials and energy, (including metals, slags, sheets are required which will deliver rather than a cherry picking approach. etc.) tend to be more interesting for an (1) materials directly recoverable as new With respect to the innovative character ex-situ approach while municipal solid resources for the technosphere, and (2) of the involved technologies, the ELFM ZDVWHODQG¿OOVDUHEHWWHUVXLWHGIRUWKH materials to be further valorized after consortium is investigating the potential ELRUHDFWRUFRQFHSW0L[HGODQG¿OOVFDQ transformational technologies. The latter of, in particular, the Gasplasma™ WtE Jones, Geysen, Tielemans, Pontikes, Blanpain, Mishra, and Apelian technology.7 As part of the sustainable PRUHGHWDLOHGHODERUDWLRQRIWKHSURMHFW valorization of materials with energy approach ELFM incorporates the goal to were performed in the period 2009–2012. SURGXFWLRQ DQG ODQG UHXVH FRVW HI¿- VHTXHVWHUXVHDQGRURIIVHWDVLJQL¿FDQW )URP  RQZDUGV WKH SURMHFW ZLOO FLHQWUHVRXUFHUHFRYHU\RIODQG¿OOVZLOO fraction of the CO2 arising during the enter a pilot-scale phase. Subsequently, generate economic, environmental, and energy valorization process. Concur- the full-scale WtE and WtM plants are social spill-overs. As primary resources UHQWO\WKHODQG¿OO]RQHFDQEHUHFODLPHG to be constructed, allowing the resource become more scarce and external costs IRUQHZVRFLHWDOO\EHQH¿FLDOXVDJHV8 UHFRYHU\WRVWDUWE\7KH&W&SURMHFW of primary resources are internalized,  $VWKHGH¿QLWLRQKLJKOLJKWVWKH(/)0 requires an investment of ~230 M€ and ELFM will become more feasible. concept is relevant for both historic and would employ up to 800 people. The Technologically, novel separation and IXWXUHODQG¿OOV,QWKHODWWHUFDVHODQG- WtM and WtE plants will be operational high added value creating WtE/M ¿OOVEHFRPHIXWXUHPLQHVIRUPDWHULDOV IRU\HDUV2YHUWKDWSHULRGWKHODQG¿OO transformation techniques are the key which cannot yet be (economically) site will be gradually developed into a challenges. Furthermore, strategic recycled with existing technologies or sustainable nature park. The ‘Closing policy decisions and tailored support show a clear potential to be recycled in WKH&LUFOH¶SURMHFWDGGUHVVHVDUDQJHRI systems for ELFM—underpinned by a more effective way in the near future. VFLHQWL¿FWHFKQRORJLFDODQGQRQWHFK- standardized LCA frameworks—will Indeed, for certain waste streams, incin- nological issues.9 First, characterization be indispensible to remove the remain- eration eliminates the possibility of its VWXGLHV RI H[FDYDWHG ODQG¿OOHG ZDVWH ing non-technical barriers. To allow as a material. The net results are were performed to verify the quality WKLV ODQG¿OOIRUUHVRXUFHV FRQFHSW WR increased material costs and decreased of the available data (log book) of the become reality, ELFM will therefore welfare, with respect to a direct materi- PDWHULDOVLQWKHODQG¿OO6HFRQGYDOLGD- require concerted, interdisciplinary and als recycling process. To ensure more tion studies of the envisaged material international research programs. PDWHULDOV ¿QG WKHLU ZD\ WR UHF\FOLQJ recuperation and the energetic valoriza- instead of or dumping, the tion technologies were conducted. Third, References ‘temporary storage’ concept (instead of a nature conservation analyses assessed the 1. J. Krook, N. Svensson, and M. Eklund, Waste SHUPDQHQWODQG¿OO EHFRPHVZRUWKZKLOH environmental impact and the envisaged Management, 32 (2012), pp. 513–520. 2. T. Prechthai, M. Padmasri, and C. Visvanathan, 7KHODQG¿OORZQHUWKHODQG¿OORSHUDWRU integration of the site in a nearby nature Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 53 (2008), and/or the waste producer will have to reserve. Finally, the establishment of the pp. 70–78. WDNHLQWRDFFRXQWWKDWWKHODQG¿OOQHHGV SURMHFW¶VFDUERQIRRWSULQWZLWKLQDODUJHU 3. D.J. Van der Zee, M.C. Achterkamp, and B.J. de Visser, , 24 (8) (2004), pp. 795–804. to be mined after a short, intermediate environmental economics study was con- 4. B.F. Paap, M.A.J. Bakker, N. Hoekstra, and H. Oonk, or longer period. ducted to demonstrate the advantage of “Characterisation of Landfills Using a Multidisciplinary  7KHµ&ORVLQJWKH&LUFOH¶SURMHFW &W&  ODQG¿OOPLQLQJFRPSDUHGWRDGRQRWKLQJ Approach,” Paper 900027 (London: Institution of Civil Engineers, 2011). LVWKH¿UVWFDVHVWXG\IRUWKH(/)0&RQ- scenario. More conceptual, societal and 5. M. Ritzkowski, K.-U. Heyer, and R. Stegmann, Waste sortium to investigate the opportunities legal background studies have also been Management, 26 (2006), pp. 356–372. and barriers for ELFM in the REMO conducted. Based on extrapolations clear 6. R.A. Mathlener, Proceedings Sardinia 99, Seventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium ODQG¿OO VLWH LQ +RXWKDOHQ+HOFKWHUHQ economic, environmental, and social (Padova, Italy: CISA Publishers, 1999), pp. 251–260. (Belgium). CtC was initiated in 2007, EHQH¿WVPD\EHH[SHFWHGIURPDZLGH 7. C. Chapman, R. Taylor, and R. Ray, Proceedings ending its concept phase at the end of deployment of the ELFM concept.10 International Academic Symposium on Enhanced Landfill Mining (Leuven, Belgium: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2008. Valorization tests, engineering and To conclude, by combining (future) 2011), pp. 201–216. 8. S. Van Passel, M. Dubois, J. Eyckmans, S. de Gheldere, F. Ang, P.T. Jones, and K. Van Acker, “The Economics of Enhanced Landfill Mining: Costs and Benefits from a Waste-to-Material—New Private and Public Perspective,” J. Resources for Directly Recycable (2012 to be published). Technosphere Replacing Streams 9. P.T. Jones and Y. Tielemans, editors, Enhanced Landfill Primary Resources REMO Ex Mining and the Transition to Sustainable Materials Landfill Site Situ Separation Management (Leuven, Belgium: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2010) (Extended Edition); www.elfm-symposium. Streams Requiring Transformational Further Processing Technology eu/downloads.php (Accessed 15/5/2012). (fines, etc.) 10. P.T. Jones, D. Geysen, Y. Tielemans, S. Van Passel, Y. Pontikes, B. Blanpain, M. Quaghebeur, and N. Hoekstra, Green “Enhanced Landfill Mining in View of Multiple Resource Energy In Reintegration into Technosphere WtM Recovery: A Critical Review,” J. Cleaner Production (accepted for publication). Situ Thermal New Closing the Loop with a Time Delay Conversion Streams (Gas Plasma) P.T. Jones, D. Geysen, Y. Pontikes, and B. Blanpain from WtE are with KU Leuven, Department of Metallurgy and Technosphere Controlled Storage for Future Recycling Materials Engineering, Centre for High Temperature Temporary Storage - Processes and Sustainable Materials Management, REMO Site Green 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Y. Tielemans is with Group Energy Machiels, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; B. Mishra is with Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA; and Figure 1. Flow sheet for the REMO Closing the Circle project, which combines in situ D. Apelian is with WPI, Worcester, MA, USA. Prof. with ex situ landfill mining, with a view on maximum resource recovery. Blanpain can be reached at bart.blanpain@mtm. kuleuven.be.