Municipal Solid Waste Research Articles

Comprehensive Assessment and Optimization of a Middle-Arch Dual-Channel Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Using Numerical Simulation Methods.

The present study focuses on a middle-arch dual-channel municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator facing issues of high NO x emission and overheating. To address these problems and optimize the incinerator, an advanced numerical simulation method was employed to comprehensively assess its bed combustion, freeboard combustion, and NO x emission characteristics. A multiphase fuel bed model considering large-particle characteristics of MSW was developed, coupled with a three-dimensional (3D) model for combustion in freeboard. The analysis revealed that the observed issues stem from multiple factors, including primary-to-secondary air ratio, flame propagation in bed, release of volatiles from bed, and distribution and mixing of components in freeboard. Reducing the proportion of primary air and correspondingly increasing secondary air effectively alleviated the localized overheating in the furnace and reduced NO x emission. Further adjustments to the distribution of primary air in three stages delaying air supply toward the burnout stage, together with the decrease in the grate movement speed, can better control the amount and speciation of N released from the bed. Implementing a counterflow mixing strategy with NH3 in the front channel and NO in the rear channel can greatly reduce the original NO x emission concentration to 95.94 mg/(N·m3), as predicted by a numerical simulation. Subsequent practical adjustments to an actual incinerator led to notable improvements, clearly optimizing the localized high-temperature issues at various locations, especially the front channel suffering severe slagging problems, with the temperature reduced from 1118 to 957 °C. Meanwhile, NO x emission concentration decreased from 200 mg/(N·m3) to around 50 mg/(N·m3), with no negative effect on the boiler load.

Supporting the investigation of health outcomes due to airborne emission by different approaches: current evidence for the waste incineration sector

Life cycle assessment (LCA) along with a survey on epidemiologic and oxidative potential studies was used for analysing the current evidence of the impact of airborne emissions from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) on human health. The correspondence among investigated health outcomes and pollutants was discussed based on the Chemical Service (CAS) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). LCA indicated the ability of MSWI in avoiding human health impact, about − 2 × 10−4 DALY/tonne together with avoided emissions of particulate matter (PM) and resource depletion, about − 2.5 × 10−3 kg Sbeq/tonne and about − 0.11 kg PM2.5 eq/tonne, respectively. Positive emissions were detected for greenhouses (about 900 kg CO2eq/tonne) and ecotoxicity (about 15,000 CTUe/tonne). Epidemiologic studies performed on population exposed to MSWI reported quite contrasting results. In some of these, hazard ratio (HR) ranging from about 0.7 to 2.2 was reported concerning the incidence of stomach, liver, breast and bladder cancer. Larger agreement was detected concerning the incidence of larynx and lung cancer with HR ranging from about 1 to about 2.6. Direct causal nexuses were not definitively identified. Oxidative potential of PM was characterized by a high Pearson correlation > 0.8 to the presence of CrVI, Cu and Zn. These heavy metals were also identified by both CAS and IARC as toxic (i.e. Cu and Zn) and cancerous (i.e. CrVI) substances affecting the organs of both respiratory and digestive apparatus. In general, even if more research is necessary, LCA, oxidative potential and the epidemiologic survey results showed a high level of accordance. This suggests their integrated exploitation for supporting the investigation of both direct and indirect consequences on environment and health related to waste incineration for both retrospective and predictive studies.

A study on water quality and pollution source investigation of Jinkengling Reservoir

Context Eutrophication pollution has emerged as a significant ecological concern on a global scale, with the quality of drinking water closely intertwined with the sustainability and advancement of rural communities. Aims The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive examination of pollution sources within the Jinkengling Reservoir, assess the extent of eutrophication pollution, and offer insights for the efficient management and regulation of the reservoir. Methods The investigation of exogenous pollution sources entailed an assessment of the pollution load, whereas the investigation of endogenous pollution sources centred on sediment testing and the analysis of sediment accumulation within the reservoir. Key results The examination of exogenous pollution sources in the reservoir indicated that nitrogen and phosphorus predominantly emanated from pollution resulting from municipal solid waste, fertiliser, and livestock and poultry farming. The analysis of endogenous pollution sources illustrated that sediment functions as a significant contributor of nutrient substances in the water. Conclusions The examination of exogenous pollution sources indicates the necessity for thorough control measures, whereas the study of endogenous pollution sources underscores the significance of sediment dredging in the reservoir. Implications This study offers insights to improve the ecological environment of local water bodies, and also has universal and reference significance for solving the global eutrophication pollution problem.

Technical feasibility and modeling of enzymatic pre-treatments of organic fraction of municipal solid waste to improve anaerobic digestion

The study explored the combined effects of enzymatic pre-treatment and anaerobic digestion (AD) on the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) through experimental and multicriteria decision-making approaches. Five enzymes (UPP2, MPCS, USC4, USE2, and A. niger) and their dosages were studied. AD parameters included two inoculum origins (waste active sludge - WAS - and cow-agricultural sludge - CAS), the substrate: inoculum (SI) ratio, and inoculum incubation time (INOC). Desirability functions were used to optimize the multiple experimental responses simultaneously by converting each of them into values from 0 (unacceptable) to 1 (completely acceptable) and then combining these into a global desirability (D). D highlighted that higher enzyme dosages, INOC, and SI, improved AD performances, with optimal DOSE (at the highest level adopted for each enzyme) and INOC (5–10 d). AD tests with the five enzymes increased CH4 production by 10–13%v/v compared to untreated OFMSW. For UPP2 and MPCS, increasing DOSE boosted the biogas production, while increasing INOC enhanced the CH4 content. MPCS reached the highest efficiency (478. 43 NL CH4/kg VS with CAS, SI = 2:1, INOC = 10 d), followed by UPP2. Furthermore, higher INOC reduced A. niger doses, increasing CH4 production by 9%v/v compared to literature, with 5–10 d INOC (452.86 NL s/kg VS with WAS, SI = 2:1).

Impacts of alkaline washing pretreatment on municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) and resulting geopolymers

The safe disposal and utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) has emerged as a crucial challenge, primarily due to elevated levels of heavy metals and chlorides. In this study, the influence of key factors in different pretreatment methods on the physicochemical properties of MSWI FA was analyzed, and the effects and mechanism of different pretreatment methods on the resulting geopolymers were studied. Under the conditions of a liquid-solid ratio (L/S) of 7 mL/g, a rotational speed of 500 r/min, and a stirring time of 20 min, the alkali washing with 1 mol/L NaOH solution exhibited better effect than water washing. The total content of chlorides and the content of soluble chloride in AFA (MSWI FA with alkali washing) were 1.53 % and 0.85 %, respectively. Alkali washing had a greater influence on the migration of heavy metals from MSWI FA to filtrate than water washing. Meanwhile, alkaline washing exhibited better effect in calcium retention and sulfur removal. The pretreatment process enhanced the gel formation in geopolymers, subsequently exerting a significant influence on the compressive strength and leaching concentration of heavy metals. Thermogravimetric analysis showed the bound water content in AG (8.46 %) was the greatest in all simples, indicating that exerted the most pronounced impact on the gel formation during geopolymerization. And, the lower ratio of Si-O-Na to Si-O-T in AG (0.20) indicated a longer geopolymeric chains, which explained the higher compressive strength of geopolymers during the initial curing period. This article provides a new pretreatment method to promote the resource utilization of MSWI FA.

Sustainable Concrete Roof Tiles: Integrating Aluminium Foil, Fly Ash, Solar PV, and Management

This research investigates the use of municipal solid waste cremated fly ash as a viable substitute for natural sand in building methodologies, with a focus on sustainability. The waste material is used in the manufacturing of concrete roof tiles that are combined with solar PV systems, providing advantages in terms of both thermal comfort and improved energy efficiency. These tiles exhibit thermal insulation prowess by effectively preserving a 2-degree temperature differential and collecting heat from solar panels to enhance their energy-production efficiency. In order to enhance performance even further, aluminium foil is strategically placed on all four sides of the roof walls. The foil acts as a reflector, redirecting solar energy towards the tiles, which leads to a 5% boost in power generation. Particular alignments, such as positioning in an east-west or north-south direction, result in further enhancements in performance of 4% and 3%, respectively. This comprehensive approach not only confirms the use of waste materials for environmentally friendly construction but also emphasizes their crucial role in promoting energy-efficient building methods.

Phytocapping for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Sustainable Approach

This paper reviews the historical developments in landfill technology and its drawbacks. It introduces phytocapping, in light of previous research, as a promising, eco-friendly and sustainable technology for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill covers in order to reduce landfill gas and leachate generation. This paper highlights the challenges to successful phytocapping, such as selection criteria for appropriate plants and growth media, and the importance of new research into overcoming these challenges. It also presents a database of plants used in landfill phytocapping studies worldwide. In addition, the performance, economics, and sustainability of phytocapping technology are evaluated in comparison to ordinary MSW landfill methods.

Experimental evaluation of municipal solid waste air-gasification in a pilot-scale reciprocating moving-grate furnace

The increasing volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) worldwide presents significant environmental challenges, necessitating the development of efficient waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions. Among various thermochemical methods, gasification offers a promising approach for converting MSW into syngas, which can be utilized for energy generation. This study investigates the gasification characteristics of MSW in a pilot-scale reciprocating moving-grate furnace, focusing on the effect of key operating parameters such as equivalence ratio (ER), gasification temperature, and gasifying agent-staged ratio on gasification characteristics.Seven experimental schemes were tested with varying lower heating values (LHV) of MSW (ranging from 6.98 to 15.1 MJ/kg) and throughputs (ranging from 0.77 to 1.67 tons per day) to assess the adaptability and stability of the moving-grate system under different conditions. The results indicate that an ER between 0.6 and 0.7, a gasification temperature of 760 °C, and a gasifying agent-staged ratio of 7:3 are optimal for achieving a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 71.6 %. It was observed that the LHV of syngas decreases when the gasification temperature exceeds 850 °C due to increased oxidation of light hydrocarbons. Moreover, the study highlights the influence of grate moving speed on residence time and reaction completeness, which are critical for optimizing syngas yield and quality.The findings demonstrate that while the maximum energy conversion efficiency of the moving-grate system is lower than other reactor types, its lower capital and operating costs, due to the lack of dedicated feedstock pretreatment, make it a viable option for small-scale and pilot-scale applications. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing MSW gasification processes and underscores the potential of the moving-grate furnace for adaptable and cost-effective WtE applications. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive evaluation of the moving-grate gasification process under varied operating conditions, providing a foundation for future research on improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact in large-scale MSW management.

Exploring the Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste in Sustainable Construction Materials: A Review

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a growing problem worldwide, as populations increase, and consumption patterns change. It not only causes pollution and health hazards, but it also results in the depletion of resources. Considering this, the utilization of MSW in sustainable construction materials has become a critical area of research. The purpose of this review study is to explore the various ways in which MSW can be utilized in sustainable construction materials such as fired clay bricks, eco-cement, geo-polymer, fly ash (FA), bottom ash (BA), ceramic bricks, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), incineration bottom ash (IBA), and coal bottom ash (CBA). This article also helps to understand the properties of waste-based materials and the potential for their use in various applications. This information renders the construction sector to design and develop standard guidelines for the use of waste-based materials. The significance of this review article lies in its potential to transform the construction sector into a more sustainable and resource efficient sector by leveraging the resources that are already available. Integrating waste into construction materials not only averts the waste from landfills and incinerators, but also facilitates the necessity of raw materials and consequently sustains the natural resources. Additionally, the utilization of waste-based building materials can lead to a reduction in the carbon trace of the construction industry, as waste materials often have lower embodied energy compared to traditional building materials. The outcomes of this review will provide valuable insights into the potential of MSW as a resource in sustainable construction and contribute to the development of effective Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) strategies.

Evaluation of Solid Waste Produced in Garowe District Somalia

Historically, waste management in Garowe District was marked by traditional practices driven by necessity rather than environmental consciousness, the aim of the study was to evaluate solid waste produced in the district while the specific objectives were to identify the composition and quantity of biodegradable waste generated the Garowe District, to assess the types and quantities of non-biodegradable waste produced in Garowe District and also To evaluate the existing waste management practices in the district. The study employed mixed methods. Copies of questionnaires were administered to 388 households and interviews conducted with 5 key informants to assess solid waste composition, quantities, handling practices, and management gaps. The study found food scraps constitute the majority of biodegradable waste generated in households, while plastics dominate the non-biodegradable waste stream. On average, household waste generation exceeds 1 kg per day, and municipal collection services only reach a portion of district residence. Existing waste management efforts focus primarily on collection and disposal with minimal infrastructure for material recovery, recycling or composting. While most residents express willingness to separate organic waste, few households implement home composting due to knowledge gaps and space constraints. The findings reveal significant potential to improve waste management sustainability by reducing disposal volumes and introducing programs to divert organics and recyclables from dumping sites. Key recommendations include public education, expanding source segregation, constructing composting and recycling facilities, and better integrating the informal recycling sector. The study provides important baseline data to inform integrated municipal solid waste management planning aligned with local needs while minimizing environmental and public health impacts. KEYWORDS: Waste management, Garowe District, Municipal solid waste, Household waste, Somalia

Optimization of municipal solid waste management system in landfill using response surface methodology - a case study of Ogbomoso South Local Government

In this study, Solid waste generation and collection assessment within the study area was undertaken with the view of formulating an optimization model that helped identify the important variables influencing the overall cost of solid waste management and also determine their optimum values. Some of the important variables used in formulating the model include; The number of solid waste collection trips (X1), Number of manpower (Persons) (X2), Fuel consumption per day (X3), Weight of solid waste collection per trip (X4). To determine the model, Statistical design of experiment (DOE) using central composite design method (CCD) was employed. The number of experimental runs based on the CCD method was determined and thirty (30) experimental runs were thereafter generated and optimized. Result of the optimization model revealed that; the number of solid waste collection trips per month (X1 = 47), Number of manpower (persons) (X2 = 3), Fuel consumption per day (X3 = 18.20liters) and Weight of solid waste collection per trip (X4 = 6.33tons). The optimal solution of selected variables produced an overall cost of N162,300. The solution was selected by the Design Expert software with a desirability value of 1 that is 100% reliability.

Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWIFA) in Geopolymer Concrete: A Study on Compressive Strength and Leaching Characteristics.

This study explores the utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) in geopolymer concrete, focusing on compressive strength and heavy metal leachability. MSWIFA was sourced from a Shenzhen waste incineration plant and pretreated by washing to remove soluble salts. Geopolymer concrete was prepared incorporate with washed or unwashed MSWIFA and tested under different pH conditions (2.88, 4.20, and 10.0). Optimal compressive strength was achieved with a Si/Al ratio of 1.5, water/Na ratio of 10, and sand-binder ratio of 0.6. The washing pretreatment significantly enhanced compressive strength, particularly under alkaline conditions, with GP-WFA (washed MSWIFA) exhibiting a 49.6% increase in compressive strength, compared to a 21.3% increase in GP-FA (unwashed MSWIFA). Additionally, GP-WFA's compressive strength reached 41.7 MPa, comparable to that of the control (GP-control) at 43.7 MPa. Leaching tests showed that acidic conditions (pH 2.88) promoted heavy metal leaching, which increased over the leaching time, while an alkaline environment significantly reduced the leachability of heavy metals. These findings highlight the potential of using washed MSWIFA in geopolymer concrete, promoting sustainable construction practices, particularly in alkaline conditions.

Robust multi-target regression with improved stochastic configuration networks and its applications

To improve the accuracy and robustness of stochastic configuration networks (SCNs) for resolving multi-target regression tasks, this paper proposes a robust modeling approach based on improved stochastic configuration networks. A parallel implementation of SCN models is designed to incrementally generate the hidden nodes, which enhances the diversity of hidden layer mapping through information superposition and spanning connection. We employ an elastic net regularization model to sparsely constrain the model parameters to characterize the correlation among multiple targets. Then, the mixture Laplace distributions are used as the prior distribution of each target modeling error, and the output weights of the SCN model are re-evaluated by maximizing a posteriori estimation to enhance model’s robustness with respect to some uncertainties presented in training samples. The modelling performance of the proposed solution is tested on six standard datasets and the historical data of a municipal solid waste incineration process. The experimental results show that the proposed modeling technique has advantages in terms of both the prediction accuracy and the robustness.

Improving biodegradability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in old landfill leachate by electrochemical pretreatment: The effect mechanism of polarity

Enhancing the biodegradability of old landfill leachate is vital for the efficient treatment or resource utilization of municipal solid waste. Electrochemical pretreatment emerges as a promising technology for transformation of refractory dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, the specific impact of polarity on improving biodegradability of DOM remains unclear. In this study, a divided electrolyzer was used to explore the changes in the biodegradability of DOM in old landfill leachate during electrolysis. Meanwhile, the correlation mechanism between BOD5 variation and DOM evolution was explored by spectroscopy and Maldi-TOF-MS analysis. Results shown that different polarities all have positive effect on enhancing the biodegradability of DOM, while the structural changes related with BOD5 are depending on the polarity. In the anode chamber, electrochemical oxidation (EO) generates and eliminates carboxyl groups. Additionally, EO concurrently eliminates humic-like substances, which are challenging for microorganisms to degrade, and protein-like substances, which are easily degradable by microorganisms. This creates a competitive mechanism that coexist the promotion and inhibition for biodegradability. In the cathode chamber, electrochemical reduction (ER) transforms DOM components, accumulating easily useable protein components for microorganisms. Kinetic studies show that EO related BOD5 changes are aptly described by a competition model, considering both generation and removal of bioavailable components. ER related BOD5 changes suit a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. These insights into the transformation of old leachate DOM support the development of methods predicting BOD5 evolution, crucial for future process optimization.

Unveiling dioxin dynamics: A whole-process simulation study of municipal solid waste incineration

Theoretical research has explained the process of dioxin (DXN) formation in the municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). This process includes the generation, adsorption, and emission of DXN. Actual DXN concentrations often significantly deviate from theoretical models. This discrepancy is influenced by several key factors: the type of integrated municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment process, the characteristics of the waste, and the operational controls. The progression of DXN generation, adsorption, and emission concentrations within the MSWI process remains unclear. This lack of clarity is especially pronounced when examining the accounting for the specific components of the MSW. To unravel the evolution of DXN, this article proposes a comprehensive numerical simulation model for the entire process of DXN concentration in an MSWI plant. The model is designed based on existing knowledge of MSW combustion and DXN mechanisms, leveraging FLIC and ASPEN simulation software. It incorporates six key stages to facilitate the DXN simulation: precipitation and formation, high-temperature pyrolysis, high-temperature gas-phase synthesis, low-temperature catalytic synthesis, adsorption on activated carbon, and emission to the atmosphere. Under both benchmark and multiple operating conditions, the simulated experiments confirm the effective representation of the evolution of DXN concentrations throughout the process. Consequently, this study presents a model designed to enhance the development of strategies aimed at reducing DXN emissions and to foster innovation in intelligent control technologies.

Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Soil of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Site

ABSTRACT With the excavation of landfill sites, the disposal and reduction of organic-rich soils with high proportions of heavy metals have become urgent issues. This study focuses on the pollution characteristics and ecological risks associated with heavy metals in the humus soil of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. The results indicate that the concentrations of heavy metals in the humus soil followed the sequence of Cu > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Hg, and Cu and Cd exhibited the highest exceedance multiples. Except for Cr, the concentrations of the heavy metals in the humus soil were higher than those in combustible components, with a strong Hg correlation. Heavy metal forms indicate varying degrees of mobility and stability; Cr, As, Hg, and Pb were stable, while Ni, Cd, Cu, and Zn showed higher mobility. The results of the principal component analysis reveal that heavy metals primarily originate from industrial and agricultural waste. Finally, the geoaccumulation index of the metals indicated that Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb exhibited severe contamination. Most importantly, Cd posed the greatest environmental risk as it has the highest effective content, bioavailability, and mobility. This study provides a scientific foundation for mitigating heavy metal pollution in the humus soil of landfill sites.

Effects of accelerated carbonation on fine incineration bottom ash: CO2 uptake, strength improvement, densification, and heavy metal immobilization

Incinerating municipal solid waste (MSW) can effectively reduce its mass and volume while producing electricity. However, this process generates incineration bottom ash (IBA), which is an aggregate-like waste containing heavy metals. Due to the higher heavy metal contents, fine IBA can be removed from total IBA and treated separately to promote the use of IBA. Furthermore, MSW incineration generates carbon dioxide (CO2), which is another concern. In this context, it is beneficial to use accelerated carbonation to treat fine IBA, because it can not only contribute to carbon capture but also provide carbonated IBA that may be utilized as aggregates in civil engineering. The accelerated carbonation process of fine IBA is affected by many parameters. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of CO2 pressure (PCO2), initial water content (wi), and carbonation time on the properties of carbonated IBA, including CO2 uptake, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), density, and leaching of heavy metals. The evolution of mineralogy and microstructure of carbonated IBA was also analyzed. The results showed that IBA with wi of 15% and PCO2 of 200 kPa could achieve a CO2 uptake of 6% of IBA mass. The carbonation time significantly affected UCS and dry density of carbonated IBA. As the carbonation time increased from 0 h to 120 h, the UCS increased from 67 kPa to 691 kPa while the dry density increased from 1.38 g/cm3 to 1.51 g/cm3. Compared with untreated IBA, the leaching concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb from carbonated IBA were reduced significantly. As the carbonation time increased, the microstructure of carbonated IBA became denser. This densified structure was one of the reasons for the strength improvement and dry density increment of carbonated IBA.

Technical and economic feasibility of hybrid power generation from urban solid waste associated with solar energy, considering the impact of the sale of carbon credits

In the global context of energy transition, from a model dependent on fossil fuels to a low-carbon matrix, hybrid plants, those that combine more than one energy source, prove to be an effective strategy for the increasing of the use of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the creation of instruments that consider the environmental benefits of energy sources, such as the carbon credit market, which allows the trading of avoided CO2 emissions in the energy generation process, can contribute to the economic viability of low emission sources. In this sense, the objective of this research was to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of hybrid generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) associated with photovoltaic energy, to meet the demands of small city councils in Brazil, considering the commercialization of carbon credits. The economic indicators Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Capital Payback Time (PAYBACK) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) were calculated for four different MSW management scenarios of the Intermunicipal Consortium of Municipalities of the Alto Sapucaí for Sanitary Landfill (CIMASAS, in portuguese), considering different percentages of recycling of dry and organic materials. The generation modalities Self-Production (APE, in portuguese) and Mini and Micro Distributed Generation (MMGD, in portuguese), provided for in the Brazilian regulatory framework, were considered. The results demonstrated that there are technical and economic viability in the proposed hybrid generation in all scenarios analyzed, and as the percentage of recovery of recyclable materials increases, there is an improvement in economic indicators. On average, in the APE modality, the NPV was 49.10 % higher than in MMGD, the IRR was 21.66 % higher, the payback was 51.68 % lower and the LCOE was 40.80 % lower than in MMGD. The inclusion of revenue from the sale of carbon credits promoted an average increase of 47.33 % in NPV, 24.09 % in IRR, and a decrease of, on average, 28.17 % in payback and 40.57 % in LCOE, in APE modality. In the MMGD modality, there was an average increase of 134.99 % in NPV, 39.46 % in IRR, and a decrease of, on average, 38.61 % in payback and 36.98 % in LCOE. These results demonstrate how the incorporation of environmental valuation in energy generation can contribute to increasing the economic attractiveness of hybrid generation from renewable sources.

Sustainable energy recovery from municipal solid wastes: An in-depth analysis of waste-to-energy technologies and their environmental implications in India

In recent years, in response to an increased demand for renewable energy sources, there has been a rise in the rate of energy recovery from municipal solid trash. This study analyses the feasibility of employing a variety of energy recovery methods to produce clean power from municipal solid waste (MSW). The conversion of MSW into a variety of useable sources of energy, such as fuel, heat and electricity, is required for the process of energy recovery. Other strategies for the recuperation of lost energy include gasification, incineration, anaerobic digestion, and the recovery of landfill gas. This article provides a high-level assessment of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each technology that is currently being utilised in India. According to the findings of the study, recovering energy from municipal solid waste is a sustainable and cost-effective option that can fulfil the growing demand for power while simultaneously lowering emissions of greenhouse gases and the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills.

Comparative analysis of the combustion and emission characteristics of biojet and conventional Jet A‐1 fuel: a review

AbstractConventional jet fuels derived from fossil sources contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, leading to climate change. Recent studies have shown that biobased jet fuels from different feedstocks offer a more sustainable alternative to conventional fuels as they are derived from renewable biomass, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The major feedstocks reviewed are jatropha curcas, camelina, karanja oil, waste cooking oil, and municipal solid waste. They offer diverse benefits for sustainable aviation fuel development. As a comparative analysis, this review examined jet fuel characteristics based on their physicochemical properties, namely energy content, viscosity, calorific value, cetane number, and freezing and flash points. The objective was to understand the influence of the properties on performance evaluation, environmental impact, and combustion characteristics. The properties of biojet fuels are compared with their fossil counterparts to validate their suitability as renewable alternatives and their benefits in terms of emissions reduction and engine performance. Biojet fuels perform better in terms of lower sulfur content, lower soot content, and a lower freezing point, their aromatic content, and their high cetane number. This study enhances the understanding of biojet fuels and their quality, and supports the development of sustainable fuel options. Overall, adherence to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D7566‐18 standard is crucial for the acceptance and integration of biojet fuels into the aviation sector. Future research should explore feedstocks such as wood biomass, wastepaper, and agricultural residues for biojet fuels. It should also investigate the combustion and emission characteristics of biosourced aviation fuel at higher blending ratios (>50% by volume) with fossil Jet A‐1.