Municipal solid waste (MSW) - competitive raw materials for combustible materials obtaining

Abstract

Waste-to-energy projects can be classified as a complementary technology for energy recovery from nonrecyclable municipal waste fractions and should therefore not compete with measures to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. The article presents the characterization of some treated municipal solid wastes as competitive raw materials for combustible materials obtaining. Samples with lignocellulosic and polymeric composition were analyzed, namely 3 samples of SRFs (solid recovered fuels) used as secondary raw material in cement plants, SRF1, SRF2, SRF3; a sample of RDF, consisting of household waste; a sample of fluff (a homogeneous mixture of non-hazardous waste - selected, mechanically treated and dried) used as a secondary raw material in cement plants; 4 samples of municipal solid waste, fractions smaller than 100 mm, after a bio-drying process, with composition: paper and cardboard (70-80%), wood (6-15%), plastic (6-10%), glass and metal (3-14%), MBU1, MBU2, MBU3, MBU4. The waste samples were characterized in terms of technical and elementary characteristics and the ash (obtained by the sample incineration) behavior in the combustion process. The mineral matter was investigated by the X-ray fluorescence analytical technique using the Rigaku CG X-ray Spectrofluorimeter. The analysis of the indices used for the slagging and deposit formation risks evaluation shows that the analyzed samples present an obvious risk of melt formation and deposits, due to a high content of base oxides and silicon oxide.