Municipal Solid Waste Processing Research Articles

Evaluating the efficiency of municipalities in collecting and processing municipal solid waste: A shared input DEA-model

This paper proposed an adjusted “shared-input” version of the popular efficiency measurement technique Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) that enables evaluating municipality waste collection and processing performances in settings in which one input (waste costs) is shared among treatment efforts of multiple municipal solid waste fractions. The main advantage of this version of DEA is that it not only provides an estimate of the municipalities overall cost efficiency but also estimates of the municipalities’ cost efficiency in the treatment of the different fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW). To illustrate the practical usefulness of the shared input DEA-model, we apply the model to data on 293 municipalities in Flanders, Belgium, for the year 2008.

Production planning for vehicle recycling factories in the EU legislative and global business environments

End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are a priority in the EU waste flow, and data show that as many as 6.34 million vehicles were processed in 2008. This paper focuses on the production process in a vehicle recycling factory. It presents a tactical production planning problem for vehicle recycling factories in the EU legislative and global business environments. The problem is formulated as a linear program, which provides optimal storage, processing and recovery, recycling and landfill disposal route decisions. The proposed model can not only help vehicle recycling factories improve their eco-efficiency and profitability but also answer many important questions. The present paper deals with questions regarding which costs should be set in EU member states for landfill disposal, combustion in municipal solid waste incinerators and processing in advanced thermal treatment plants so that the ELV Directive can have the most positive eco-effect on the vehicle recycling factory business. The cost increase for landfill disposal will not always reduce the quantity of disposed automobile shredder residue (ASR). The influence of the ELV Directive on the vehicle recycling factory business is analysed. Future quotas will not endanger their profitability. Comprehensive testing of the proposed model showed that the control of the recycling system efficiency should be done at the system level because it will in no way jeopardise the ELV Directive objectives.

Design of Integrated Treatment Process of Municipal Solid Waste in Shanghai

Based on analysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Shanghai city, a related integrated treatment process of MSW was studied. MSW was classified into organic, combustible, recyclable and other parts. The designed integrated treatment process includes mixed waste sorting, anaerobic digestion of the biodegradability organic waste, RDF production systems of combustible waste and deodorizing system. Organic MSW is digested under anaerobic conditions and produce biogas for power generation for electricity plant. The residue can be used to prepare organic and inorganic fertilizer; Combustible MSW has low water, high calorific value and can be prepared RDF; The recyclable trash (plastic, metal) are on sale. Other MSW is land filled. The designed integrated treatment process may provide a route to solve the problems of MSW in Shanghai.

Anammox: An option for ammonium removal in bioreactor landfills

Experiments carried out in bioreactor landfill simulators demonstrated that more than 40% of the total N was transferred into the liquid and gas phases during the incubation period of 380 days. Ammonium, an end product of protein degradation and important parameter to consider during landfill closure, tends to accumulate up to inhibitory levels in the leachate of landfills especially in landfills with leachate recirculation. Most efforts to remove ammonium from leachate have been focused on ex situ and partial in situ methods such as nitrification, denitrification and chemical precipitation. Besides minimal contributions from other N-removal processes, Anammox (Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation) bacteria were found to be active within the simulators. Anammox is considered to be an important contributor to remove N from the solid matrix. However, it was unclear how the necessary nitrite for Anammox metabolism was produced. Moreover, little is known about the nature of residual nitrogen in the waste mass and possible mechanisms to remove it. Intrusion of small quantities of O 2 is not only beneficial for the degradation process of municipal solid waste (MSW) in bioreactor landfills but also significant for the development of the Anammox bacteria that contributed to the removal of ammonium. Volatilisation and Anammox activity were the main N removal mechanisms in these pilot-scale simulators. The results of these experiments bring new insights on the behaviour, evolution and fate of nitrogen from solid waste and present the first evidence of the existence of Anammox activity in bioreactor landfill simulators.

Wasteful waste-reducing policies? The impact of waste reduction policy instruments on collection and processing costs of municipal solid waste

We study the impact of some local policies aimed at municipal solid waste (MSW) reduction on the cost efficiency of MSW collection and disposal. We explicitly account for differences between municipalities in background conditions by using a bootstrapped version of the Data Envelopment Analysis methodology in combination with a matching technique. Using data on 299 municipalities in Flanders, Belgium, for the year 2003, our results indicate that municipalities that are member of a waste collection joint venture, or that subscribe to a voluntary agreement to reduce MSW at the highest ambition level, collect and process MSW more efficiently than other municipalities. Weekly instead of two-weekly waste collection, or using a weight-based pricing system appears to have no impact on efficiency. Our results show that aiming at MSW reduction does not lead to lower efficiency of public service provision, even on the contrary.

Experimental Study on the Combustion Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste

In China, municipal solid waste (MSW) of low heating value and high water content are always burnt in their original forms. Based on the constituent of Shijiazhuang City’s MSW, nine typical constituent of wastes were blended as actual MSW. In this paper, MSW were chosen to carry out element analysis, industrial analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Analysis combustion characteristics of MSW and the mixture of MSW and coal adopt WCT-2 High Temperature Computer Differential Thermal Balance. The kinetic parameters of MSW and the mixture of MSW and coal were obtained through the law of Arrhenius and the thermogravimentric curve. The final result indicates that ignition point and activation energy of MSW are obviously lower than those of the coal, and the ignition point of the mixture of MSW and coal are not high. It can be combusted completely below 850°C. And the combustion process of MSW or the mixture of MSW and coal can be separate into two stages, the first stage is water in the MSW evaporated, the second stage is combustion of combustible. There are four stage of weightlessness in the combustion of combustible, it shows that there are influence between each constituent of MSW. All this will offer help for incineration MSW of low-heating-valued.

Enzymatic processing of municipal solid waste

The focus of this work was to investigate an enzymatic liquefaction of MSW organics, paper and cardboard. Liquefaction trials were conducted in different trial volumes: 50 g lab-scale trials and 50 kg vessel-tests and evaluated based on particle size and viscosity. The viscosity results showed that Celluclast 1.5 L had the singular significant effect on liquefaction of model MSW. No effect of α-amylase, protease and interaction in between and with cellulases on viscosity and particle size distribution was found in this study. Degradable material with a particle size above 1 mm after treatment was evaluated using SEM microscopy. These results showed that paper particles were the main obstacles needing additional treatment in order to become fully liquefied. In a pilot scale test treating authentic MSW; more than 90% of initial organic and paper dry matter (DM) was recovered as liquid slurry after sieving through a 5-mm sieve. These tests were performed at up to 35% DM, showing that this process can easily manage high DM loadings. MSW enzymatic liquefaction promotes the separation of organics and paper from solids, which facilitate the use of these degradable fractions, with minimal loss, capable to enter a biogas plant through existing pipes.

Stack emissions tests in a brick manufacturing Hoffmann kiln: firing of municipal solid waste

This article reviews the results obtained from stack emissions analysis during the co-firing process of municipal solid waste (MSW) from the municipality of Tabio, Colombia, in a Hoffmann-type brick kiln. MSW (2 tonne) was incinerated and about 18.5 tonnes of clay were processed into brick using one and four kiln chambers, respectively. During the process, the following emissions were investigated: particulate emissions, emissions of SO(2), SO(3), NO( X), metals (Sb, As, Cd, Co, Sn, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Hg), hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid, hydrocarbons (such as methane) and emission of polychlorinated dioxins and furans. Also, CO emissions were monitored during each test to evaluate the influence of MSW co-firing on that parameter. The observed emissions concentrations proved to be below the threshold values issued by MAVDT, the environmental authority in Colombia, indicating that the emissions were under control during the proposed process. In addition, statistical analysis showed that the emissions were 10-40% below the regulation limit with a confidence of 95%.

Effect of chlorine on volatilization of Na, K, Pb, and Zn compounds from municipal solid waste during gasification and melting in a shaft-type furnace

In the present work, a shaft-type furnace model in which the furnace column is divided into multiple cells was proposed and equilibrium reaction calculation software was used to describe the model. The model was used to study the effects of gasification and melting conditions such as temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and chlorine content on the volatilization behaviors of the low-boiling-point metals Na, K, Pb, and Zn during the gasification and melting process of municipal solid waste in a shaft-type furnace. Consequently, the volatilization ratios of Na, K, Pb, and Zn compounds in the exhaust gas from a pilot plant shaft-type furnace were found to be in good agreement with the calculation results, and the Na, K, Pb, and Zn compounds were volatilized mainly as metal chlorides in the temperature range up to approximately 1173 K. With a further rise in temperature, these low-boiling point metals were volatilized as metallic forms. It was found that almost 100% of Pb and Zn compounds were volatilized regardless of the chlorine content in municipal solid waste; in contrast, the volatilization rates of Na and K increased when the chlorine content increased. Finally, Na, K, Pb, and Zn compounds were converted from reduced metals to metal chlorides such as NaCl, KCl, PbCl2, and ZnCl2 with an increase in the ratio of chlorine to each metal.

Garbage Crusher Fault Diagnosis Based on RBF Neural Network

The garbage crusher is a new kind of crusher for garbage crushing when processing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). With the development of automatic equipment and the complication of structure and properties of the garbage crusher, the fault diagnosis of garbage crusher is very important. In this paper, according to the fault symptoms and parameters, Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBF NN) is used for fault diagnosis of the garbage crusher. The structure and inference of RBF NN are discussed in detail. The garbage crusher fault diagnosis model is established based on RBF network. At last, the fault of mechanical system is taken as an example of garbage crusher fault diagnosis. Training simulation results of the neural network are given base on MATLAB software. The result shows the RBF NN is suitable for fault diagnosis of garbage crusher.

Properties of sintered glass-ceramics prepared from plasma vitrified air pollution control residues

Air pollution control (APC) residues, obtained from a major UK energy from waste (EfW) plant, processing municipal solid waste, have been blended with silica and alumina and melted using DC plasma arc technology. The glass produced was crushed, milled, uni-axially pressed and sintered at temperatures between 750 and 1150 degrees C, and the glass-ceramics formed were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mechanical properties assessed included Vickers's hardness, flexural strength, Young's modulus and thermal shock resistance. The optimum sintering temperature was found to be 950 degrees C. This produced a glass-ceramic with high density (approximately 2.58 g/cm(3)), minimum water absorption (approximately 2%) and relatively high mechanical strength (approximately 81+/-4 MPa). Thermal shock testing showed that 950 degrees C sintered samples could withstand a 700 degrees C quench in water without micro-cracking. The research demonstrates that glass-ceramics can be readily formed from DC plasma treated APC residues and that these have comparable properties to marble and porcelain. This novel approach represents a technically and commercially viable treatment option for APC residues that allow the beneficial reuse of this problematic waste.

Effectiveness of sewage sludge in composting process of municipal solid waste

Present study determines that 60 days degradation period used for composting of Municipal solid waste with sewage sludge was beneficial as rate of composting process has enhances due to optimum favorable conditions provided as well the catalyst used for the composting process as sewage sludge have shown tremendous progress in increasing the fertility of compost compared with the control samples. Reduction in heavy metal content like Cu, Fe, Ni, Mg, Mn, Zn etc has been observed after the composting process

Biofiltration treatment of odors from municipal solid waste treatment plants

An in situ compost biofilter was established for the treatment of odors from biostabilization processing of municipal solid waste. The concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in odors and their components were measured. Biofilter media was characterized in terms of total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic matter (OM), pH value and determination of bacterial colony structure. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the main components of the produced gas were benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) along with other alkanes, alkenes, terpenes, and sulphur compounds. The compost biofilter had remarkable removal ability for alkylated benzenes (>80%), but poor removal for terpenes ( approximately 30%). Total VOC concentrations in odors during the biostabilization process period ranged from 0.7 to 87 ppmv, and the VOC removal efficiency of the biofilter varied from 20% to 95%. After about 140 days operation, TN, TC, TP and OM in compost were kept almost stable, but the dissolved N, NH(4)-N and NO(3)-N experienced an increase of 44.5%, 56.2% and 76.3%, respectively. Dissolved P decreased by 27.3%. The pH value experienced an increase in the early period and finally varied from 7.38 to 8.08. Results of bacterial colony in packing material indicated that bacteria and mold colony counts increased, but yeasts and actinomyces decreased along with biofilter operation, which were respectively, 3.7, 3.4, 0.04 and 0.07 times of their initial values.

Contribution to advances in waste-to-energy technologies

This paper presents a number of recent advances in technologies and improvements in units for the thermal processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) and various other types of waste. The focus is on the ‘waste-to-energy’ approach; various criteria for this approach are discussed, as well as the inconsistent attitudes about waste management approaches that are present in various countries in the European Union. The presented achievements include low-NO x burners, improved efficiency, heat exchangers, waste heat recovery systems, newly developed equipment for wet scrubbing, dioxin filters and systems for the treatment of sewage sludge. A new concept for a regional Waste-to-Energy Centre (WTEC) is outlined, the design of which is based on a combination of experience, know-how and a sophisticated approach. The proposed WTEC will use up-to-date technologies and will provide an adequate response to the growing population and rising standards of living as well to increasingly stringent environmental regulatory standards. Utilization of computational methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for design optimisation and/or for troubleshooting is demonstrated with examples (flue gas duct, burner, combustion chamber). Several examples from industrial applications are summarized.

Carboxylate Platform: The MixAlco Process Part 2: Process Economics

The MixAlco process employs a mixed culture of acid-forming microorganisms to convert biomass to carboxylate salts, which are concentrated via vapor-compression evaporation and subsequently chemically converted to other chemical and fuel products. To make alcohols, hydrogen is required, which can be supplied from a number of processes, including gasifying biomass, separation from fermentor gases, methane reforming, or electrolysis. Using zeolite catalysts, the alcohols can be oligomerized into hydrocarbons, such as gasoline. A 40-tonne/h plant processing municipal solid waste ($45/tonne tipping fee) and using hydrogen from a pipeline or refinery ($2.00/kg H(2)) can sell alcohols for $1.13/gal or gasoline for $1.75/gal with a 15% return on investment ($0.61/gal of alcohol or $0.99/gal of gasoline for cash costs only). The capital cost is $1.95/annual gallon of mixed alcohols. An 800-tonne/h plant processing high-yield biomass ($60/tonne) and gasifying fermentation residues and waste biomass to hydrogen ($1.42/kg H(2)) can sell alcohols for $1.33/gal or gasoline for $2.04/gal with a 15% return on investment ($1.08/gal of alcohol or $1.68/gal of gasoline for cash costs only). The capital cost for the alcohol and gasification plants at 800 tonne/h is $1.45/annual gallon of mixed alcohols.

A new gasification and melting incineration process of MSW with co-current shaft furnace

In all the municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal technology, incineration with gasification and melting has been taken as a environmentally sound and zero emission technology owing to avoiding second-pollution of heavy metals and dioxin. In this background, a new direct gasification and melting incineration process with co-current shaft furnace is put forward. In this process, MSW and combustion-supporting air are co-current from top to bottom in a shaft furnace. Fuel gas from pyrolysis and gasification burns completely in the bottom in order to offer energy for slag melting. The simulation experiment of the co-current shaft furnace has been done. The results of simulation experiment show that the temperature on the condition of co-current is much higher than on the condition of countercurrent at the bottom of reaction tube and so is the CO 2 quantity discharged from reaction tube. It can be concluded that the co-current shaft furnace is more suitable for direct gasification and melting incineration process.

An experimental study on a novel shredder for municipal solid waste (MSW)

Based on composition and volume-mass properties of MSW (i.e., unit weight, void ratio, and water content), a new way for the breakage of the organic MSW is presented to effectively convert MSW to heat and fuel gas. A lab-scale shredder consisting of compaction and shredding chambers is designed and the breakage process of MSW in the shredder can be divided into three successive phases: deformation, further deformation, compressive shearing. The performances of the shredder, such as the effect of the rotor velocity and hydraulic pressure on product size distribution and specific energy are investigated. The results show that with hydraulic pressure the specific energy is reduced, and size distribution of product is finer. When hydraulic pressure is constant, the specific energy decreases with increasing rotor velocity, while the products size distribution is coarser.

Molecular typing of staphylococcal communities isolated during municipal solid waste composting process

This study investigates the molecular typing occurrence of staphylococcal communities during composting process of municipal solid waste. One hundred staphylococcal strains were isolated during the composting process and analysed either by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), internal transcripted spacer-polymerase chain reaction (ITS-PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used as molecular tools. During the digestion phase of composting process three staphylococcal species were recovered:Staphylococcus xylosus (48%),Staphylococcus lentus (40%), andStaphylococcus hominis (12%). In the maturation phase in addition to the latter species four species were also recovered at low frequencies:Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus warneri andStaphylococcus sciuri. Therefore, the composition of staphylococcal communities was temperature-, and phase dependant. The molecular methods showed that the ARDRA was not able to differentiate between strains of the same species. However, the ITS-PCR and the PFGE methods allowed interspecies and intraspecies discrimination, respectively.

Levels of ATP in different organic wastes under composting conditions

AbstractBACKGROUND: The concentration of ATP in selected samples from the composting process of several organic wastes (municipal solid wastes, wastewater sludge, animal by‐products and cow manure) has been determined in order to characterize the aerobic biological activity of such wastes.RESULTS: The values obtained ranged from 0 (in old stable compost from cow manure) to 0.07 µmol ATP g−1 dry matter in thermophilic samples of municipal solid wastes composting. In general, it was found that ATP levels were in agreement with the stage of the composting process (initial stage, thermophilic period and maturation). On the other hand, ATP concentration correlated well (P < 0.05) with the overall respiration activity during a complete composting process of municipal solid waste at full scale.CONCLUSION: ATP concentration can be used to determine the biological activity of organic solid wastes in different stages of their biological treatment and to predict compost stability prior to soil application. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry

Hydrogen energy: Terceira island demonstration facility

The present paper gives a general perspective of the efforts going on at Terceira Island in Azores, Portugal, concerning the implementation of an Hydrogen Economy demonstration campus. The major motivation for such a geographical location choice was the abundance of renewable resources like wind, sea waves and geothermal enthalpy, which are of fundamental importance for the demonstration of renewable hydrogen economy sustainability. Three main campus will be implemented: one at Cume Hill, where the majority of renewable hydrogen production will take place using the wind as the primary energy source, a second one at Angra do Heroismo Industrial park, where a cogen electrical heat power station will be installed, mainly to feed a Municipal Solid Waste processing plant and a third one, the Praia da Vitoria Hydrogenopolis, where several final consumer demonstrators will be installed both for public awareness and intensive study of economic sustainability and optimization. Some of these units are already under construction, particularly the renewable hydrogen generation facilities.