Thermal Decomposition and Gasification of Waste with Water-Absorbent Polymer

Abstract

In order to clarify the effect of water content on thermal decomposition process of disposal paper diaper with water-absorbent polymer quantitatively, thermal decomposition tests of the small diaper piece (0.2 g) containing water up to 30 times of initial mass of sample were conducted in an image furnace. Mass reduction during thermal decomposition was measured by using an electric micro-balance. The components of gas produced by the thermal decomposition were analyzed with FT-IR gas analyzer. The oxygen concentration in the furnace was set to 0% or 21%. It was found that thermal decomposition period became long with increasing water. In the condition of 0% oxygen concentration, the mass reduction slower than that in the condition of 21% oxygen concentration, and slow mass reduction continued after rapid mass reduction. In the case of the sample with no water under the 21% oxygen concentration, HC and CO were emitted simultaneously in the decomposition process. However, in the other cases, the peak emission of HC appeared later than that of CO regardless of water content.