Biomined and Fresh Municipal Solid Waste as Sources of Refuse Derived Fuel

Abstract

With scarce land availability and ever-soaring quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW), recovery and recycling of the waste stream can only be the savior. An integrated system that facilitates recovery in the form of nutrients, materials, and energy is the need of the hour. Conventional energy sources are getting scarcer with aggressive consumption in industries such as thermal power plants, metal and cement industries etc. While the combustible fraction of MSW colloquially known as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) can supplement the demand up to a considerable extent. Additionally, the application of RDF significantly lowers the operational expenditure and carbon footprint. Source-specific characterization, quality assessment, and promotion of RDF as a promising fuel for cement manufacturing plants were the primary objectives of the study. The investigation revealed the waste characteristics have been significantly varied between the source of generation, transfer station, and the MSW processing and disposal facility. The calorific value (CV) and moisture content (MC) of the mixed RDF consortium were the primary parameters of interest. CV and MC delineated an inversely proportional correlation. The CV value of 3200 cal/gm at source depleted to 1300 cal/gm in segregated combustible fraction, while the MC value has elevated from 14% to 33%. The findings direct better source segregation and transport of combustible fraction can enhance the RDF quality and encourage cement industries for better adaptation of RDF as a potential alternate.