Non-Isothermal Pyrolysis Kinetics of Municipal Solid Wastes

Abstract

Energy conversion via the pyrolysis of municipal solid waste has recently been considered one of the key drivers to achieve a sustainable energy for an ever increasing global economic growth among developed and developing nations. In line with this consideration, this study focuses on the effects of non-isothermal reactor temperatures, heating rates and initial weight of several key components in the solid waste materials, such as, surrogate paper, cardboard, and plastic under pyrolysis conditions. Pyrolysis kinetic rates are determined under various conditions using nearly identical initial weight of surrogate solid waste materials between 4 to 5 grams at atmospheric pressure. Waste samples are confined inside cylindrical stainless steel containers that feature small openings to release noncondensable and condensable gases during pyrolysis conditions. The outside surfaces of the cylindrical containers are heated non-isothermally in a laminar flow reactor using the stoichiometric products of combustion of propane with air. The reactor temperatures during the pyrolysis experiments are maintained non-isothermally between 100 to 750 o C. Experimental results obtained on the non-isothermal pyrolysis kinetics of MSW will be presented in this paper.