Refuse Derived Fuels (RDFs) are generated from municipal solid wastes (MSWs) thought a combined mechanical-biological processing. The narrower chemico-physical characteristics make RDFs more suitable than MSWs for thermochemical valorisation purposes. For this reason EU regulations encourage the use of RDF as a source of energy in the frameworks of sustainability and circular economy. Pyrolysis and gasification are promising thermochemical processes for RDF treatment, since, with respect to incineration, they ensure an increase in energy recovery efficiency, a reduction of pollutants emissions, and the production of value-added products as chemical platforms or fuels. In this work, the results on pyrolysis tests on a real RDF rich in plastic- and cellulose-based materials are reported. Pyrolysis tests have been performed in a tubular reactor up to three final temperatures (550, 650 and 750°C) and the resulting gaseous, condensable and solid products have been analysed in terms of yield, chemico-physical characteristics and energy recovery to highlight how this thermochemical conversion process can be used to accomplish waste to materials and waste to energy targets. RDF pyrolysis produces three products (gas, char and pyrolysis oil) with specific chemico-physical characteristics exploitable in unconventional technological applications. Among the three products, the most abundant and also the most promising in terms of possible applications is the condensable species fraction, whose highest yield was achieved at 550°C. The massive presence of waxes makes this fraction a potential candidate for the replacement of fossil-fuel based material in bitumen and asphalt processing and rejuvenation. It is worth of noting also that the final pyrolysis temperature has a strong influence on the segregation of some critical species such as S and N in the char opening to its re-use as adsorbent, catalyst, material for energy harvesting devices and additives for pavement industry depending on its composition. The use of pyrolysis products for asphalt preparation is an emerging research topic and opens to an alternative use of pyrolysis products (liquids and solids) outside of fuel and chemicals industries and to the replacement of petroleum-derived products (e.g. crude oil) with products deriving from waste thermoconversion.
A feasible strategy to replace fossil-fuel based material in bitumen and asphalt processing and rejuvenation through Refuse Derived Fuels (RDFs) thermochemical valorization
V Gargiulo;P Calandra;R Migliaccio;M Urciuolo;G Ruoppolo
2022
Abstract
Refuse Derived Fuels (RDFs) are generated from municipal solid wastes (MSWs) thought a combined mechanical-biological processing. The narrower chemico-physical characteristics make RDFs more suitable than MSWs for thermochemical valorisation purposes. For this reason EU regulations encourage the use of RDF as a source of energy in the frameworks of sustainability and circular economy. Pyrolysis and gasification are promising thermochemical processes for RDF treatment, since, with respect to incineration, they ensure an increase in energy recovery efficiency, a reduction of pollutants emissions, and the production of value-added products as chemical platforms or fuels. In this work, the results on pyrolysis tests on a real RDF rich in plastic- and cellulose-based materials are reported. Pyrolysis tests have been performed in a tubular reactor up to three final temperatures (550, 650 and 750°C) and the resulting gaseous, condensable and solid products have been analysed in terms of yield, chemico-physical characteristics and energy recovery to highlight how this thermochemical conversion process can be used to accomplish waste to materials and waste to energy targets. RDF pyrolysis produces three products (gas, char and pyrolysis oil) with specific chemico-physical characteristics exploitable in unconventional technological applications. Among the three products, the most abundant and also the most promising in terms of possible applications is the condensable species fraction, whose highest yield was achieved at 550°C. The massive presence of waxes makes this fraction a potential candidate for the replacement of fossil-fuel based material in bitumen and asphalt processing and rejuvenation. It is worth of noting also that the final pyrolysis temperature has a strong influence on the segregation of some critical species such as S and N in the char opening to its re-use as adsorbent, catalyst, material for energy harvesting devices and additives for pavement industry depending on its composition. The use of pyrolysis products for asphalt preparation is an emerging research topic and opens to an alternative use of pyrolysis products (liquids and solids) outside of fuel and chemicals industries and to the replacement of petroleum-derived products (e.g. crude oil) with products deriving from waste thermoconversion.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
