Marie KirbyHarper Adams University | HAUC · Agriculture and the Environment
Marie Kirby
Doctor of Philosophy
About
15
Publications
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Introduction
My research has focused upon integrating novel technologies (anaerobic digestion (AD) and intermediate pyrolysis) for the optimisation of energy production, waste/residue utilisation and reduction in GHG. My AD research has focused on the development of dry AD; novel AD feedstocks; nutrient recovery for the production of fertiliser-type products and the survivability of pathogens and antibiotics through AD. My pyrolysis research has focused on novel feedstocks and further uses of biochar.
Skills and Expertise
Publications
Publications (15)
Red algae, belonging to the phylum Rhodophyta, contain an abundance of useful chemicals including bioactive molecules and present opportunities for the production of different products through biorefinery cascades. The rhodophyte Palmaria palmata, commonly termed dulse or dillisk, grows predominantly on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacif...
Oat husks are produced during the milling process of oats. Oat husks are a lignocellulosic material that have the potential for valorization thereby improving the circular economy of agricultural by-products. However, due to the high lignocellulosic content, there are limited valorization pathways for oat husks. To improve the anaerobic digestibili...
Chicken manure is an agricultural by-product that is a problematic feedstock for anaerobic digestion due to its high nitrogen content inhibiting methane yields. This research examines a novel pilot-scale method of ammonia stripping, the nitrogen recovery process (NRP) developed by Alchemy Utilities Ltd. The NRP was designed to remove and recover ni...
Pyrolysis char residues from ensiled macroalgae were examined to determine their potential as growth promoters on germinating and transplanted seedlings. Macroalgae was harvested in May, July and August from beach collections, containing predominantly Laminaria digitata and L. hyperborea; naturally‐seeded mussel lines dominated by Saccharina latiss...
Research was undertaken to ascertain the effect on biogas potential during the anaerobic digestion of chicken manure containing Staphylococcus aureus and chlortetracycline (antibiotic) from infected chicken flocks. S. aureus is a pathogenic bacteria in chicken flocks that is usually treated with the broad-spectrum antibiotic, chlortetra-cycline. Ve...
Combined technologies Diverting food and drink wastes, after recycling, away from landfill and converting them into renewable energy is becoming a more viable possibility. Typically, food and drink supply chain waste consists of waste food, packaging, and food-contaminated packaging. This mixed waste can be unsuitable for commercial energy-conversi...
Anaerobic digestion was investigated as a potential method for on-farm disposal of fallen stock (pig carcases), degrading the carcase material to produce biogas and digestate. The effects of feedstock (sugar beet pulp or pig carcase material or a 50:50 mix) and organic loading rate (50 g-TS L-1or 100 g-TS L-1), during mesophilic (35 °C) anaerobic d...
In the United Kingdom (UK), approximately 26.8 million tonnes of household municipal solid waste (MSW) was generated in 2014, representing 14% of the total generated UK waste. The recyclable and combustible fractions of MSW are removed for further processing from the remaining organic fraction of MSW (OFMSW), which is commonly landfilled. The OFMSW...
Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants enable renewable fuel, heat, and electricity production, with their efficiency and capital cost strongly dependent on their installed capacity. In this work, the technical and economic feasibility of different scale AD combined heat and power (CHP) plants was analyzed. Process configurations involving the use of wast...
Bio-methane production via anaerobic digestion is a promising technology for the decarbonization of the energy system. Bio-gas obtained from anaerobic digestion of farm and food industry waste is largely composed of 60% CH4 and 40% CO2. For injection of bio-methane into the gas distribution network it is necessary to remove CO2 from the biogas so t...
![Fig. 1. AgroCycle innovations in the agricultural production chain [8].](profile/Trisha-Toop/publication/319947769/figure/fig1/AS:560177294577664@1510568082023/AgroCycle-innovations-in-the-agricultural-production-chain-8_Q320.jpg)
Continuing population growth and increasing consumption are driving global food demand, with agricultural activity expanding to keep pace. The modern agricultural system is wasteful, with Europe generating some 700 million tonnes of agrifood (agricultural and food) waste each year. The Agricultural Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (ACSES) at H...
![Fig. 1. Schematic of the Thermo-Catalytic Reforming process (Source: [11])](profile/Mike-Theodorou/publication/319950674/figure/fig1/AS:614318680858653@1523476395810/Schematic-of-the-Thermo-Catalytic-Reforming-process-Source-11_Q320.jpg)
Disposal of food and drink wastes, including packaging wastes, has a significant cost and environmental impact. All carbon containing wastes have an energy potential and the food industry should focus on recovering that energy to offset their reliance on fossil-fuel derived energy sources. This paper focuses on the novel use of intermediate pyrolys...
This report was prepared in response to a request to investigate the possibility of introducing carcase cooling as a method for on-farm storage of fallen pigs in the United Kingdom. In Denmark and the Netherlands, carcase cooling on pig units has been established since 2008, with the use of cooling wells and subsequently cooling containers. This re...
Two questionnaires were completed by a selection of farms in Great Britain during 2008 and 2009 to ascertain the role of the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) in fallen livestock disposal, the current disposal methods used for fallen livestock and other animal by-products (ABPs), and factors determining use of a particular method. The results d...
Projects
Project (1)
Continuing population and consumption growth are driving global food demand, with agricultural activity increasing to keep pace. Europe has a major agricultural waste problem, generating some 700 million tonnes of waste annually. There is an urgent need and huge opportunity to address the efficient use of agricultural wastes, co-products and by-products (AWCB) towards delivering sustainable value chains in the farming and processing sectors. As such, AgroCycle project will convert low value agricultural waste into highly valuable products, achieving a 10% increase in waste recycling and valorisation by 2020. This will be achieved by developing a detailed and holistic understanding of the waste streams and piloting a key number of waste utilisation/valorisation pathways.
