Abrasive Drying - The Process

Abrasive drying is the name given to Inetec’s unique technology which converts food and non recyclable packaging waste into a highly prepared biomass fuel. This patented technology has been developed by Inetec over the past ten years and is fast becoming the technological choice for large scale food manufacturers and retailers across the UK.

Here’s how abrasive drying works:

Food and non-recyclable packaging waste is shredded prior to loading into the TherMec unit. Once shredded the waste is fed through a pump system into the abrasive drying chamber of the TherMec unit. Once loading is complete the abrasive drying process begins by adding low level heat to the base of the chamber. As this heat is applied a series of large paddles rotate and macerate the waste against itself, being the abrasive drying process. First surface level moisture is exposed and vaporised, and then after several hours of grinding and heating the cellular level moisture becomes exposed. This is also vaporised off the waste leaving behind a very dry powder, typically of around 4% moisture content.

During the abrasive drying process the moisture which is extracted from the food and non-recyclable packaging waste is drawn away from the chamber and condensed back into a liquid effluent, which in most cases is suitable to be drained straight to foul sewer.

Once the 14 hour abrasive drying cycle is complete the biomass fuel is discharged into a fuel hopper where it can be stored ready for use in a variety of energy recovery systems.