PM2.5 Emission Behavior from Laboratory-Scale Combustion of Typical Municipal Solid Waste Components and Their Morphological Characteristics

Abstract

To control PM2.5 from solid waste combustion, combustion simulation, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Remarkable PM2.5 formation is an explosive release accompanied by acute weight loss and heat release over an interval of 300–400 °C. Sawdust starts to emit PM2.5 from approximately 200 °C. Plastic shows a little lag in PM2.5 emission from approximately 350 °C and constantly emits PM2.5 until 600 °C. When the temperature was 55–130 °C above of the ignition temperature or 20−65 °C above of the maximum weight loss temperature, the highest PM2.5 concentration was detected. Among combusted single wastes, plastic emits the maximum amount of PM2.5 at 10.7 mg/g, followed by rags (6.59 mg/g), sawdust (5.70 mg/g), food waste (5.49 mg/g), and paper (2.86 mg/g). Diverse sources have varied morphologies, which would help in identifying PM2.5 from various wastes. PM2.5 emitted by plastic is a well-distributed particulate that is spherical in shape. PM2.5 emitted by rag and fo...