World’s first microwave-powered waste-to-energy system successfully demonstrated

Global Resource Corporation’s Patriot-1 prototype. Image courtesy of Business Wire/ Global Resource Corporation.

New Jersey-based Global Resource Corporation demonstrated on May 4 the world’s first commercially-viable microwave-powered system that can turn industrial waste into diesel, methane, carbon ash, and other usable hydrocarbons.

Global Resource demonstrated its prototype Patriot-1 system at its Rockford, Illinois, USA research facility. Patriot-1 successfully transformed a large amount of used tires into diesel fuel, methane, butane, propane, carbon ash, and other combustible gases. The company claims that the system can also generate energy-rich hydrocarbons using shale rock, tar sands, bituminous coal, heavy oil, municipal waste, tanker sludge, waste oil, and dredged materials. The entire waste-to-energy process is emissions-free, as it operates in a completely enclosed environment. The process can maintain an energy efficiency ratio of 1:50, which enables a wide range of materials to be economically-viable as feedstock, even if the feedstock is not waste material and must be purchased.

Global Resource has already signed a joint development agreement with an oilfield services company to utilize the technology with heavy oil.

“The Patriot-1 establishes a new standard for waste management and alternative energy development by placing the efficient processing of hydrocarbons within the grasp of a range of industries,” said Global Resource chairman and CEO Eric Swain. “The recycling of tires is important for the health and environment of America and is the first step in utilizing our microwave technology to derive energy from waste.”

Global Resource Corporation is listed on the OTCBB as GBRC. Its stock was up 7.38% on the May 5 trading day, settling at 1.60.


-  Mike R. Lopez

Sources:

Business Wire
¹ http://www.globalresourcecorp.com