Plasma Arc Technology: A Potential Solution Toward Waste to Energy Conversion and of GHGs Mitigation

Abstract

Recently, the sustainable waste management (SWM) has drawn enormous concern throughout the world. Improper waste management aggregates to a large extent of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, which has an adverse impact on the climatic conditions. Direct or indirect mitigation of GHG emission through safe and energy recovery process is an efficient method toward sustainable waste management from environmental point of view. In this relevance, Plasma Arc technology has high potential in waste destruction and energy recovery by producing high calorific value syn gas (CO, H2). In the present study, emission of GHGs and its effective mitigation are correlated with municipal solid waste (MSW) management procedure. Component wise efficiency evaluation of MSW toward the energy recovery shows the capability to diminish the demand of conventional fuel resources. It has been noticed that the major component of MSW are paper and plastics, which posses high calorific value and in its consequence greater energy recovery efficiency. In MSW, carbon–nitrogen (C/N) ratio and metal content are very high, which are very much responsible for GHGs generation due to improper disposal methods such as incineration, landfilling. In actual practice, reduction of generated waste and mitigation of waste generated GHGs, recycling, and suitable disposal methods with efficient energy recovery should be prioritized. Plasma-driven technologies can be an efficient approach toward the above-mentioned visions. Presently, these technologies are significantly implemented in various parts of world with considerable efficiency. In India, though these methods are not generally implemented but various policies and missions like Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), which has become the largest movement toward cleanliness, highly emphaszes the SWM. These approaches can assist give a timely solution in mitigation of GHGs in a safe and efficient way in comparison to the existing technologies.