Energentium
October 31, 2013
BY Susanne Retka Schill
Energentium Inc. is finalizing tests before entering into full production in a few weeks at its new 15 MMly (4 MMgy) plant in Brantford, Ontario, to recycle waste beer and soft drinks into ethanol.
“Many companies are paying growing penalties to the government for the waste-material dumping and even bigger penalties in public relations in the public eye,” Phil Artman, general manager, said. Production will start in November, “using technology that will not only make ethanol from waste materials in an efficient way, but create additional byproducts such as electricity, animal feed, omega 3 oils and CO2, to name just a few.”
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Artman said the Energentium process is unique in several ways. Besides using waste beverages, the system can be adapted to use other food wastes including fruit and vegetables, jams, syrups, sugars and candies. The process, which incorporates reverse osmosis in a unique manner, is very energy efficient, Artman added. “It actually produces energy in the ethanol distillation process.”
The Brantford location was chosen because of its proximity to several Ontario breweries and wineries where the new company will source expired and bad batches of beverages. Among its innovations is its automated Lids Off process that takes the caps off an entire case of bottles at one time at a rate of six cases per minute. The undamaged glass bottles can be returned to the manufacturer, according to the company’s website.
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On Oct. 26, Energentium also announced it was introducing its CleanBlaze line of ethanol gels for use in ethanol fireplaces, canisters for chafing dishes and catering and other camping and outdoor cooking equipment.
“Energentium’s philosophy is that as a company that deals with the environment, recycling and a cleaner future, we are a part of the community we work within,” Artman said. “We believe that our model can be replicated to work in any size community. Our process can help improve local environmental issues in the small towns as well as larger metropolitan areas.”
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