Non-recyclable municipal solid waste characterization and pyrolysis for energy recovery

Abstract

European regulations require that by 2030 waste suitable for recycling, material recovery, or energy recovery will no longer be allowed to end up in landfills. Material composition in non-recyclable MSW bins dictates which valorization measures could be implemented. This study examines 32 non-recyclable MSW bins in the Getafe municipality (Spain). The bulk non-recyclable MSW bin is separated into 15 residue materials along with non-combustible materials. Merely 18.1 % of the non-recyclable MSW bins occupy non-recyclable waste. This indicates inadequate separation at source. MSW samples are grouped into six clusters with similar properties using the K-nearest neighbor methodology. Representative sample from each cluster is pyrolyzed at 520 ◦C. The main product of pyrolysis is liquid, which makes up 57.9 wt%, while solid and gas fractions are 16.4 and 16.5 wt%, respectively. Liquid fraction is a blend of aromatic, aliphatic, oxygenated, and nitrogenated compounds, while CO2 is the main gas compound.