The new technology will be used to process waste at the Eras Eco plant in Foxhole, Youghal. SCFI, the Irish company that has developed the technology, AquaCritox, say it is unique.

It uses super critical water oxidation to destroy organic waste without generating hazardous emissions and is completely odourless.

It is carbon neutral, generates renewable energy and recovers valuable by-products that can be used for resale, such as phosphorus and CO2. The CO2 produced is short cycle carbon which can be sold for industrial applications or dry ice production.

The plant will take waste from pharmaceutical companies in the Cork area, which previously needed to be shipped abroad for thermal treatment.

The AquaCritox plant at Eras Eco will work alongside a new above-ground anaerobic digester, which will be used for the enhanced treatment of bio solids.

The methane gas produced from the system will be used to produce electricity for use on site though a combined heat and power generator.

SCFI chief operating officer, David Kerr said: “AquaCritox is a full destruction rather than reduction technology, offering a significant decrease in costs with none of the hazardous by-products associated with other destruction technologies.

“It does not fall under the Waste Incineration Directive, so there are no onerous licensing issues to worry about.

“Our solution is fast, safe and environmentally friendly, producing more energy than it actually uses. This rapid reaction also means that our plants are small in actual size.”

The system will be installed in October 2011 and the project will create 10 new full-time jobs and 20 jobs for the construction and installation phase.

To read more about the technology you can go to SCFI’s website.

Alison Brown

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