Osaka Gas Co has conducted a demonstration experiment to turn used bioplastic bento containers into energy. Despite government efforts to promote the use of bioplastics, finding practical ways to recycle these materials remains a challenge.
The company collaborated with the city of Osaka and Osaka Metropolitan University on a biomass gasification project. The goal is to develop a process that could be used around 2030 to convert bioplastics into biogas at a sewage treatment facility.
During the demonstration, which took place between December last year and March, nearly 1,000 used bioplastic containers collected from the university cafeteria were decomposed into lactic acid. This lactic acid was then added to sewage sludge in a digester tank at an Osaka sewage facility. According to Osaka Gas, the process of breaking down the containers and converting them into biogas proceeded smoothly, although detailed results were not disclosed.
Previous tests with smaller devices showed that adding lactic acid to sewage sludge could increase biogas production by about three times. The company estimated that using around 3,500 containers could generate enough biogas to supply energy for roughly 30 households daily.
While the results are promising, wider adoption of this technology depends on increasing the scale of bioplastic recycling efforts. Industry experts say that achieving the government’s target of using two million tons of bioplastics by 2030, up from 150,000 tons in 2022, will be key to making biogas a practical energy source for local communities.
The post Osaka Gas explores turning used bioplastics into biogas appeared first on World Bio Market Insights.
