To make Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) more carbon neutral, this project investigates the feasibility of implementing a hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) reactor on WPI’s campus. This reactor takes food and green waste and converts it to biofuel. We interviewed leaders in Chartwells and facilities to estimate the total waste available to the reactor. We used these estimates to interview experts in HTL to determine reactor specifications. We also surveyed community members on how they viewed this reactor and if students were willing to help fund it. We found this reactor would be feasible, as we produce enough food waste to justify the use of a reactor, and that there is community support.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Quinn, Georgina I.
• Katz, Ido A.

Subject

• Energy
• Infrastructure
• Innovation
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Food

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-051321-164621
• 24516

Keyword

• HTL
• Sustainability

Advisor

• Timko, Michael T.

Year

• 2021

Center

• Worcester Community Project Center (Massachusetts) - IQP

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
• 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Date created

• 2021-05-13

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 International