Evaluation of thermochemical and kinetic characterisation of lignite and municipal solid waste and their blends for sustainable and clean conversion under TGa

Abstract

With the expansion in generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) due to population growth, and also increase the demand of clean energy production, and the curb of landfilling of MSW, it has established the need of our society to use MSW with the available lignite under-the-vision of waste-to-energy (WtE). The WtE technique is an environment-friendly way for disposing of MSW into the useful way globally. The thermal characteristics of MSW with lignite and their blends were investigated to analyze thermal stability. Blends of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of MSW with lignite were prepared and tested in thermogravimetric analyzer from ambient to 1000?C under heating-rate 10?C per minute. This study revealed that steep in weight-loss profiles in thermogravimetric curves was reduced as MSW contents increased. It was observed, MSW proportions in blends significantly affect the combustion profiles and associated parameters like ignition temperature, weight-loss and activation energy. The blends showed combustion properties of MSW and lignite as maximum weight-loss occurred between the individual fuels. Moreover, results indicated that with low proportion of MSW as 10% didn't significantly affect the combustion behavior and properties. While blend 30% shows the more thermal stability than other samples. Thermal profiles of all blended samples occurred in between of the parent samples. Results obtained from experiment help to predict co-combustion thermal behavior of MSW and lignite in existing facilities to generate clean-energy in sustainable way from commercial power plants. The kinetic parameters obtained by Horowitz-Metzger method showed improvement in ignition performance and find the difference between blends.