Changing World Technologies
Encyclopedia
Changing World Technologies (CWT), a privately held company, was founded in August 1997 by Brian S. Appel, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CWT and its subsidiaries. CWT was started primarily to develop and commercialize the thermal depolymerization
technology, now referred to by the company as "thermal conversion process", developed and patented by Paul Baskis
. The process produces renewable diesel fuel from agricultural and livestock wastes.
Baskis has since left CWT, but the company has retained the rights to his patents, primarily 5,269,947 - Thermal Depolymerizing Reforming Process and Apparatus.
In 1998, CWT started a subsidiary, Thermo-Depolymerization Process, LLC (TDP), which developed a demonstration and test plant for the thermal depolymerization technology. The plant opened in 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
In 2008, CWT, based in West Hempstead, New York
, received the Most Innovative Patent Award in the Environment & Energy category from the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame. Appel accepted the award at the 2008 awards ceremony on March 6.
On March 4, 2009 after a failed IPO attempt in February, 2009, Changing world Technologies and its three subsidiaries filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The company effectively shut down its Carthage, Missouri, plant, after it bought ConAgra's share of the facility. The company is attempting to reorganize.
and CWT to develop the processing of agricultural waste and low-value streams throughout the world. RES, now wholly owned by CWT, has the "first commercial biorefinery in the world that can make oil from a variety of waste streams, principally waste from the nearby ConAgra Butterball
turkey processing plant in Carthage, Missouri
. According to Biomass magazine, "CWT’s thermal conversion process is a commercially viable method of reforming organic waste that converts approximately 250 tons of turkey offal and fats per day into approximately 500 barrels of renewable diesel." In addition to other problems, production costs turned out to be $80 a barrel, much higher than the anticipated $15. , however, the Carthage plant was expected to generate a small profit.
The plant in Carthage, Missouri opened in May 2004. Almost immediately local residents started to complain about a foul odor. In December of 2005, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt ordered the plant shut down. The company installed odor mitigation equipment and reopened the plant 3 months later. The plant was closed in March 2009 as the result of bankruptcy. In March 2011 the company indicated that it has gathered the financing to reopen the plant and that it plans to accept used fryer oil as feedstock.
In 2007 two residents filed a law suit against Renewable Environmental Solutions because they say they suffered due to odors from the operation. They also filed to expanded the suit to a class action. A judge denied class action status on March 9, 2011.
Thermal depolymerization
Thermal depolymerization is a depolymerization process using hydrous pyrolysis for the reduction of complex organic materials into light crude oil. It mimics the natural geological processes thought to be involved in the production of fossil fuels...
technology, now referred to by the company as "thermal conversion process", developed and patented by Paul Baskis
Paul Baskis
Paul Baskis is an Illinois biochemist, who, in the 1980s found a way of synthetically producing oil from industrial and household wastes without expending more energy than is produced. This process was patented, U.S. patent 5,269,947, in 1993. The rights to the patent were acquired by Changing...
. The process produces renewable diesel fuel from agricultural and livestock wastes.
Baskis has since left CWT, but the company has retained the rights to his patents, primarily 5,269,947 - Thermal Depolymerizing Reforming Process and Apparatus.
In 1998, CWT started a subsidiary, Thermo-Depolymerization Process, LLC (TDP), which developed a demonstration and test plant for the thermal depolymerization technology. The plant opened in 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
In 2008, CWT, based in West Hempstead, New York
West Hempstead, New York
Not to be confused with West Hampstead, London.West Hempstead is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 18,862 at the 2010 census...
, received the Most Innovative Patent Award in the Environment & Energy category from the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame. Appel accepted the award at the 2008 awards ceremony on March 6.
On March 4, 2009 after a failed IPO attempt in February, 2009, Changing world Technologies and its three subsidiaries filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The company effectively shut down its Carthage, Missouri, plant, after it bought ConAgra's share of the facility. The company is attempting to reorganize.
Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC
Another of CWT’s subsidiaries and affiliate companies is Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC (RES), which was formed in 2000. It is a joint venture between ConAgra FoodsConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
and CWT to develop the processing of agricultural waste and low-value streams throughout the world. RES, now wholly owned by CWT, has the "first commercial biorefinery in the world that can make oil from a variety of waste streams, principally waste from the nearby ConAgra Butterball
Butterball
Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally — specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and...
turkey processing plant in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
. According to Biomass magazine, "CWT’s thermal conversion process is a commercially viable method of reforming organic waste that converts approximately 250 tons of turkey offal and fats per day into approximately 500 barrels of renewable diesel." In addition to other problems, production costs turned out to be $80 a barrel, much higher than the anticipated $15. , however, the Carthage plant was expected to generate a small profit.
The plant in Carthage, Missouri opened in May 2004. Almost immediately local residents started to complain about a foul odor. In December of 2005, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt ordered the plant shut down. The company installed odor mitigation equipment and reopened the plant 3 months later. The plant was closed in March 2009 as the result of bankruptcy. In March 2011 the company indicated that it has gathered the financing to reopen the plant and that it plans to accept used fryer oil as feedstock.
In 2007 two residents filed a law suit against Renewable Environmental Solutions because they say they suffered due to odors from the operation. They also filed to expanded the suit to a class action. A judge denied class action status on March 9, 2011.