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Kunistar ProcessWe are beginning to grasp the disastrous environmental consequences of the massive waste that is the by-product of our convenience seeking lifestyles. From the standpoint of the environment the problem of waste is among our biggest headaches and may even turn out to be the bane of our civilization. Myopic to the larger implications of our actions, until now, we have been content to incinerate the bulk of organic wastes that are the product of consumerism.
The Kunistar process is a revolutionary solution using a novel application to a widely recognized technology that significantly abates the emission of greenhouse gases and can substantially reduce our national carbon footprint. The invention is receiving wide acclaim in Japan and available for adoption in North America and around the world. It consists of a technology and process to utilize the power of hydrolysis at conditions approaching the “super-critical stage” of water (above 200°C) to break down the molecular structure of biomass and decompose organic wastes into compost.
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water molecules are split into hydrogen cations (H+) and hydroxide anions (OH-). The super-critical stage of a fluid is a temperature and pressure that exceeds the liquid-vapour critical point. Supercritical water has the ability to dissolve solids that would not normally dissolve in liquid water or steam. Enormous opportunities arise for conversion of waste biomass to value-added products.
In the Kunistar process, the hydrolysis reaction occurs between water and organic waste which is mainly composed of Carbon. The main thermal reactions that occur are: Carbohydrates breaking down to glucose, proteins to amino-acids, oil/ fat to fatty acids, and high molecular compounds breaking down to low molecular compounds. Moreover, using water as the solvent, the reactions that occur do not generate the common greenhouse gases, NOX, SOX, and CO2, which would be the case in other treatments methods such as incineration, desiccation, dehydration, etc. Additionally, germs and bacteria are killed in the process making the output sterile – meaning even medical wastes can be processed.
When water is heated to 374°C and pressurized to 220 times ordinary atmospheric pressure (706°F and 3191 psi), these rarefied conditions cause the liquid and vapor densities of water to become identical and we can actualize water in a supercritical state. At these critical conditions (heat and pressure) it is widely known that water is neither steam nor liquid but becomes a potent instrument capable of breaking down organic compounds. In recent years, a voluminous literature has evolved around the use of supercritical water to neutralize harmful and environmentally unfriendly materials. PCB’s, Dioxins and the like have been safely and effectively neutralized. A growing body of research is currently focused on experimenting with alternative feedstock to produce renewable sources of energy (and energy recovery) such as with hydrogen and SNG (Substitute Natural Gas).
The Kunitomo process mimics the same chemical reaction that occurs naturally when waste is converted to compost. Hydrolization occurs at natural ambient temperatures too. Kunistar speeds up the reactive process between 100 – 1000 times the naturally occurring rate and stimulates the reaction through agitation and addition of an yeast culture. Within an hour, the process is complete and wonderful, fragrant compost prepared.
Livestock manure (chicken, cow, and pig feces); food waste, agricultural waste (vegetable waste, fruit waste, grain husks); fishery processing waste, and woody waste (waste building materials, thinned or pruned woods, lumber mill wastes, and bark), medical wastes, institutional wastes (sewage sludge cakes, sludge cakes) and all high water content biomass are particularly well suited for processing. All of the above cited items make excellent organic fertilizers after going through the process. There are other great usages to, general home garbage plastics including polymers can be broken down using hydrolysis, pressure, and temp processing. The plastics can be broken down without releasing harmful dioxins.
We welcome you to view our catalogue here (PDF format, 5.8 MB) or view the Kunistar Process Information Video here (WMV format, 299 MB).
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