MagneGas unveils new technology at biomass conference

Florida-based, MagneGas Corp. revealed its mobile liquid biomass technology that processes liquid waste into sterilized water for irrigation and fertilization, in addition to hydrogen-based fuel, at the seventh annual International Biomass Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla.

The technology utilizes submerged electrodes to gasify multiple varieties of liquid waste, such as sewage, agricultural manures and even cheese waste, to produce a syngas that can be used for multiple applications. “The syngas produced, which is called MagneGas, is immediately usable in its natural state,” says Ermanno Santilli, CEO of MagneGas. “You don’t need any sort of filtration or scrubbing, unlike other solid gasification systems.”

The MagneGas fuel has been tested both with General Motors and the U.S. Navy. The Navy started a program to develop a cutting torch fuel to replace acetylene in 2011. “I think there were eight different cutting fuels that we started with, and now it’s down to two, MagneGas and propane,” Santilli said. The Magnegas fuel is a stable hydrogen gas, which is important to those who use it, he added.

In addition to gasifying liquids, the MagneGas technology is able to sterilize bacteriologically active substances, such as manure. “Western countries don’t typically use manure for anything because it has bacteria, parasites, E. Coli and others that are very difficult to eliminate. Even digesters won’t kill specific parasites,” Santilli said. As the liquid hits the 10,000 degree electrical arc, it is instantly vaporized and liquefies. “If you have cells, bacteria or parasites, the water inside those cells vaporizes and rips apart,” he adds.

To demonstrate its use in agricultural applications, MagneGas is aiming to begin a pilot program within the U.S. in the near future. The technology has been tested at a sewage treatment plant in Italy since 2010 and was expected to be tried in other countries, such as Germany.