[RegulatorCountry]

I've been hearing about thermal depolymerization for several years now. The question I have is, why has this remained relatively below the radar for so long? If the process is feasible, it will truly be revolutionary, probably as much for waste disposal as for the fuel it generates. But, something must not add up. It does sound a bit too good to be true.

[Axenolith]

This has been out for a bit. The first article I saw on it detailed W. Buffet's son with a group touring the pilot plant. They now have an ~500 barrel a day unit up at a turkey processing facility in Missouri I believe.

Saw a news piece on it on TV a while back with them showing whole computer monitors being fed into the slurry grinder.

[q_an_a]

starbase thanks for the post (update) RC - This story rolls around about every 8 weeks. The investors are the biggest names ever in government i.e. Kissinger, Woolsey etc etc. Now with the turkey plant working I look for them to one several each year - after the big IPO.

[Clock King]

Probably requires more energy to run the process than it is worth it to get out. Basic laws of thermal dynamics, you can't win, break even or get out the game. The natural process of creating crude oil take a long time and enormous energy (pressure of the earth, gravity, energy from the sun, etc.). Thats a LOT of energy in the process.

[jec41]

But, something must not add up. It does sound a bit too good to be true.

The process is privately owned and does not sell stock so capital is limited. The profit margin has been somewhat lowered than expected and their are many complaints about odor. The last time I did a study they were using turkey parts and feathers for fuel which were free but then the turkey processors started charging for waste. I think they are building a sewage disposal plant in Philadelphia.