NEWS
A Thesis at the University of Bahrain Calls for Converting Waste into Energy
Sakhir – University of Bahrain (Ali Al Sabbaq)
July 18, 2023
A scientific thesis at the University of Bahrain stressed the importance of optimal use of waste and household refuse to reduce adverse environmental effects. The thesis proposed establishing high-tech plants for waste management to encourage waste separation practices and benefit from them.
Jawaher Al Deghaither, a student in the master’s program in engineering management at UoB, presented her thesis titled “Municipal Solid Waste Management and Generating Energy from it – A Case Study of the Eastern Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, as one of the requirements of the master’s degree in engineering management at the College of Engineering.
The study addressed waste and solid waste management carried out by the municipality of the Eastern Region in KSA, ways to develop a waste-to-energy plant, and the impact of the type of municipal solid waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on technology selection.
The study reviews compliance with the World Energy Council standards for waste-to-energy conversion, through thermochemical conversion, biochemical conversion, and chemical conversion, which are sustainable technologies supported by the waste management sector worldwide.
The researcher conducted a feasibility study to analyze the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the issue of waste management. The market analysis showed that 50.60% of the waste is food waste, and 17.40% is plastic waste.
Al-Deghaither stressed the importance of encouraging solid waste separation technology, as the main challenge in establishing a waste-to-energy plant, where most municipal solid waste is disposed of and collected as a whole, without prior sorting.
The researcher proposed establishing a new and developed waste treatment plant in the north of Al-Rakah District, for waste recycling and utilization. She noted the positive impact of these plants in preserving the environment and sustaining resources, as the proposed plant would contribute to the production of clean energy, reducing carbon emissions and landfills, and preventing serious environmental pollution (caused by open landfills).
The discussion panel consisted of associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Mohammad Ali Bin Shams as an internal examiner, faculty member at King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mohammad Rihan as an external examiner. The thesis was supervised by Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bahrain, Prof. Ahmed Yusuf Abdullah, and Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UoB, Dr. Osama Misbah Al-Jamal.
