Waste to Carbon: Densification of Torrefied Refuse-Derived Fuel

Andrzej Białowiec,Jacek Koziel,Monika Micuda

doi:10.3390/en11113233

Andrzej Białowiec, Jacek Koziel + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en11113233

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Abstract

In this work, for the first time, the feasibility of obtaining carbonized refuse-derived fuel (CRDF) pelletization from municipal solid waste (MSW) was shown. Production of CRDF by torrefaction of MSW could be the future of recycling technology. The objective was to determine the applied pressure needed to produce CRDF pellets with compressive strength (CS) comparable to conventional biomass pellets. Also, the hypothesis that a binder (water glass (WG)) applied to CRDF as a coating can improve CS was tested. The pelletizing was based on the lab-scale production of CRDF pellets with pressure ranging from 8.5 MPa to 76.2 MPa. The resulting CS pellets increased from 0.06 MPa to 3.44 MPa with applied pelletizing pressure up to the threshold of 50.8 MPa, above which it did not significantly improve (p < 0.05). It was found that the addition of 10% WG to 50.8 MPa CRDF pellets or coating them with WG did not significantly improve the CS (p < 0.05). It was possible to produce durable pellets from CRDF. The CS was comparable to pine pellets. This research advances the concept of energy recovery from MSW, particularly by providing practical information on densification of CRDF originating from the torrefaction of the flammable fraction of MSW–refuse-derived fuel. Modification of CRDF through pelletization is proposed as preparation of lower volume fuel with projected lower costs of its storage and transportation and for a wider adoption of this technology.

Highlights

Demographic growth and economic development cause considerable challenges for the contemporary global economy
This research advances the concept of energy recovery from municipal solid waste (MSW), by providing practical information on densification of carbonized refuse-derived fuel (CRDF) originating from the torrefaction of the flammable fraction of MSW–refuse-derived fuel
The apparent trends in loads are the same for all samples; no significant deviations between successive repeats were observed. This observation is important for scale-up considerations and mass production of CRDF pellets

Summary

Introduction

Demographic growth and economic development cause considerable challenges for the contemporary global economy. One of the most important is the growing energy demand and the amount of municipal waste generated. According to the forecasts for 2040 by the International Energy Agency, the demand for electricity will increase by 30% [1]. The waste management sector will continue to grow. According to research by the Organization for Economic. Co-operation and Development (OECD), an increase in national income by 1% increases the amount of municipal waste by 0.69% [2]. The circular economy based on waste recycling and zero-waste trends are gaining support, the growing population and higher living standards result in more waste

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