Slashdot Mirror
Japanese Company Turns Diapers Into Energy Source
greenrainbow writes "A Japanese company called Super Faith has developed a new machine that turns used adult diapers into a clean fuel source in about 24 hours. You simply place the bag of dirty diapers in the machine, and once set it motion it pulverizes, sanitizes and dries the material in the diapers and then forms it into small pellets that contain 5000 kcal of heat per kilogram and are meant to be used in biomass heating and electricity systems. Super Faith has reportedly installed two SFD systems at a hospital in Tokyo's Machida area. Each is capable of turning 700 pounds of used diapers — and everything they hold — into fuel every day."
Paper and plastic, the two main components of diapers, are already burned for energy in WTE plants. Poop is already used for energy after being treated at a wastewater treatment plant. Why not do it all in one step?!
this is just a guess...
they are burning the fiber in the waste material. buffalo "chips" (shit) were used in this same manner by the early settlers crossing the plains, the indigested plant material burned great!
baby's don't eat very much fiber for the first six months, so you wouldn't get as much out of them. still, the diaper material should release some energy when burnt, and baby's diet is high in fat, so it would be an interesting experiment! anyone have access to lab equipment? i've got plenty of baby diapers to give ya!