Research Claims Filtering Waste Into Willow Trees Could Produce Biofuels

A study looking into the effects of filtering wastewater into willow trees could help to create renewable biofuels, green chemicals and clean water, whilst at the same reducing a growing problem caused by contaminated water.

The project, published in Science of the Total Environment, suggests that over 30 million litres of wastewater per hectare of willow trees could be treated every year using this approach, which the research team described as a “biorefinery”.

  1. Why Willow Trees?

Willow has historically been one of the most widely used woods for medicinal and even manufacturing purposes, with a fishing net made from willow dating back over 10,000 years.

It has considerable upside for biofuel production because it grows very quickly and its biomass can be transformed into a range of sustainable products, including bioethanol and green plastics produced without fossil fuels.

Willows are also exceptionally hardy trees that are very naturally tolerant of contamination, and it is this quality in particular that has made this research fascinating.

Willows do not, for example, need to be grown on high-quality land and so do not use land that could be used for food crops, and the powerful roots of willow trees naturally filter out the nitrogen that is commonly found in sewage waste.

This versatility is not unknown, and a previous study has suggested that a fifth of the world’s energy requirements could be provided through willow-produced biofuel without damaging food production whatsoever.

Willow also produces a range of highly useful chemicals, of which the most well-known and well-used is salicin, a precursor to aspirin.

Through filtering sewage, willow has also been found to produce a range of green chemicals with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Research has even been undertaken into ways to recover valuable metals using plant technologies that essentially extract them from contaminated soil.

  1. Creating Biofuel From Willow Trees

Willow is a particularly effective producer of biomass, the plant material that is either burned or refined into biofuels such as bioethanol.

Once the willow has grown and been replanted, the wood from the trees is taken to a processing plant where through surface grinding it is turned into chippings.

These chippings could be burned on their own as for wood-burning stoves and boilers, but in most cases are taken to a biorefinery, where the clippings and chippings undergo a chemical process to convert them into bioethanol, typically through fermentation of sugars, starches and cellulose.

At this point, the bioethanol enters the fuel refinery process where additives are mixed in or the bioethanol is added to conventional fuel to serve as a replacement for petroleum.

Recently, the government changed the standard formulation of petrol in the UK to add twice the amount of bioethanol to it. This new E10 petrol is claimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 750,000 tonnes a year, with little impact on modern cars.

Indeed, it is believed that most current cards manufactured since 2011 could use fuel mixed with up to 15 per cent bioethanol without the risk of mechanical problems, although the current E5 mix is still available for classic car owners.

9, a:1:{i:0;s:8:”defaults”;}, surface grinding, Could Biofuel Be Produced By Filtering Waste Into Willow?, A study looking into the effects of filtering wastewater into willow trees could help create renewable biofuels, green chemicals & clean water. See more here., A study looking into the effects of filtering wastewater into willow trees could help to create renewable biofuels, green chemicals and clean water, whilst at the same reducing a growing problem caused by contaminated water., field_544dcaa8220f0, , field_543e9601d7f94, 59

More News

Hoverdale Vulcanising Services

What is Conveyor Belt Vulcanising?

The Essential Role of Vulcanising in Conveyor Belt Durability and Maintenance. Vulcanising is a pivotal process in the manufacturing and

Shopping Basket
× Need help? Click here to chat

MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.