The adaptation of waste-to-energy technologies: towards the conversion of municipal solid waste into a renewable energy resource

Abstract

Currently, there are an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated per year globally, and this quantity is predicted to increase to 2.2 billion tonnes annually by 2025. If not well treated, this rapid growth of waste products can lead to socio-economic and environmental problems. Waste is potentially a misplaced valuable resource that can be converted and utilized in different ways such as renewable energy resources for the realization of sustainable development. Presently, waste-to-energy technologies (WtETs) are considered to be an encouraging advanced technology that is applied to convert MSW into a renewable energy resource (methane, biogas, biofuels or biodiesel, ethanol, syngas, or alcohol). WtETs can be biochemical (fermentation, anaerobic digestion, landfill with gas capture, and microbial fuel cell), thermochemical (incineration, thermal gasification, and pyrolysis), or chemical (esterification). This review mainly aims to provide an overview of the applications of these technologies by focusing on anaerobic digestion as biological (nonthermal) treatment technologies, and incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification processes as thermal treatment processes. Landfill gas utilization technologies, biological hydrogen production processes, and microbial fuel cells also are assessed. In addition, the contemporary risks and challenges of WtETs are reviewed.

Pyrolysis of Biosolids to Produce Biochars: A Review

“…(i) Land application technologies: composting, direct agricultural use, forestry enhancement and land reclamation [27], (ii) Energy source production/recovery: incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, bioethanol production, direct/hydrothermal liquefaction, and hydrogen production [28]; and thirdly, (iii) Materials applications: water treatment absorbents, adsorbents, filtration media, composites, cement, construction, and asphalt manufacturing [29].…”

Waste Management Based On Waste To Energy Technology In Palopo City

“…From an economic perspective, WtE technologies are capital-intensive, requiring costly equipment (Aleluia & Ferrão, 2017). Many developing nations lack the financial capacity to invest in waste-to-energy, as construction, start-up, operation, and maintenance costs of incineration facilities may be prohibitively high (Bishoge et al, 2019). For instance, in Malaysia, incinerator operations were halted due to the high operational costs associated with fuel and maintenance (Shafie & Rizal, 2019).…”

The nexus of energy resources and the environment

“…There is an emission of over 36 million tonnes of CO 2 per year globally, and this continues to increase (Ritchie & Roser, 2019). Currently, China is the world's large CO 2 contributor accounting for over one-quarter (28%) of the global emissions followed by the United States (15%), European Union (10%), India (7%), and Russia (5%) (Bishoge et al, 2019). However, the United States has contributed much of the global CO 2 emissions with 25% of cumulative emissions, followed by the European Union (22%), China (13%), Russia (6%), and Japan (4%) (Ritchie, 2019).…”