Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition for mixed municipal solid waste using thermogravimetric analysis

Abstract

Thermal conversion of wastes is one of theperspectivesolution to 'municipal solid waste' problem. Thermal conversion process entails thermal decomposition of material with an increase in temperature. This experimental analysis investigated thermal decomposition of municipal solid waste using thethermogravimetric technique. The objective of the analysis was to analyze the changes in kinetic characteristics with changes in thecomposition of content in sample waste and temperature. Sample waste analyzed consisted of plant organic waste, paper, plastics, wood and inert substance. Proximate and elemental analyses were determined and calorific values determined experimentally using bomb calorimeter. Thermogravimetric curves were derived using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at different temperature rates. Activation energy and preexponential factor were derived using Flynn-WallOzawa, KissingerAkahiraSunose and Kissinger model equations. Additional statistical analyses of variance using ANOVA was conducted for the different sets of composition analyzed. Results showed kinetic parameter values for different modelfree models used in analysis as well as the level of variance in activation energies for different composition of waste and temperature rates used.