Solid Waste Management

By: Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan

Dept. of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Chem. Eng. & Natural Resources Eng. UTM

Waste Management Hierarchy

Waste Disposal Thermal Treatment

Energy Recovery Waste Recycling Waste Reduction

Best Practicable Environmental Approach (BPEO)

Incineration provides assurance for conversion of heterogeneous waste to stable state under controlled conditions Best way to recover energy from waste is combustion in a waste to energy plant Waste incineration offers a number of important environmental advantages

It is likely that a substantial proportion of wastes will always require disposal, because recycling them is technically impossible or financially unrewarding. The coupling of energy recovery with disposal helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. . the best practicable environmental option for MSW would prove to be incineration (carried out to the latest standards) with energy recovery followed by landfilling of the solid residues From an environmental perspective it is preferable that conversion of heterogeneous and unstable wastes to a stable state takes place under controlled conditions rather than over a lengthy period . and that . for unsorted municipal waste, incineration is the only available process which provides such an assurance.

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, UK

Approaches towards cleaner environment

1970s
Past

1980s
Future

Pollution Prevention

Cleaner Production

Zero Emission

Zero Emission Concept

Reduction in resource consumption Minimise waste production Innovative concept networking of various industries Enhanced productivity Profits-oriented Enables the use of waste from an industry as raw or starting material in other manufacturing process and vice versa

 Energy could be recovered from the organic fraction of waste Inorganic fraction could be further processed into construction materials The flue gas is made innocuous through complete combustion and gas treatment The remaining residuals are rendered harmless and recycled as useful materials The heat generated is effectively recovered as energy source

Role of Incineration in Zero Emission

Zero Emission System Adopting Fluidised-Bed Gasification and Combustion Technology (1997 Summary Annual Report, EBARA Corporation)

Advantages of Incineration
Volume reduction of waste Prolong lifespan of landfill Recovery of renewable energy from waste Reduction in total loading of greenhouse gases Treatment of infectious and toxic wastes

Obstacles to Incineration
Public negative views Issues of dioxins and furans Lack of technical knowledge Budgetary constraints

Issue of Dioxins
Dioxins are a generic term used for group of polychlorinated dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) Most toxic isomer of dioxins 2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)

Cl Cl

O O

Cl Cl

Cl Cl O

Cl Cl

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran

Health Hazards from Dioxins

Claimed to be carcinogenic and teratogenic to animal and human, although there is no proven case of cancer in human caused by dioxin exposure (Malaysian emission limit 0.1 ng/m3) Exposure limits are not available Acute exposure headache, weakness, digestive disturbance Chronic exposure chloracne, cancer, affect central nervous system

Sources of Dioxins
Combustion and incineration sources claimed to account for >90% of dioxins in the US Discrepancies in estimating dioxin emissions from waste incinerators E.g Medical waste incinerator emitted 5,100 (g/yr) of TEQ dioxin (US EPA, 1994) but estimated to be 150 g/yr in 1995 and reduced to 14 23 g/yr by 2002 (US EPA 1996)

Sources of Dioxins
Sources of Emissions
Natural Sources Motor Vehicles Manufacturing & Industry

Relative Contributions (%)

62.4 20.5 10.9

Electricity Generation
MSW Incinerators

2.0
2.6

Residential Wood Burning

Medical Waste Incinerators - 1997 - 2000
Source(s):

1.3
0.2 0.01

Ohio Dept. of Public Health Report, July 1994 and estimates prepared by Rigo, G. and Cudahy, S., June 1997 (Adopted from Doucet, L. G., 1998, Internal publication of Doucet & Mainka) * Estimates for medical waste incinerators based upon dioxin values reported in the Preamble of the final HMIWI Regulations, September 15, 1997

Basic Principles of Thermal Processing

Three stages a) Drying b) Devolatilisation c) Char combustion

Unit Operations
Solid waste Pre-treatment : shredding / cutting Feeding : belt conveyor / ram feeder Thermal treatment : combustion / gasification / pyrolysis Heat recovery : steam generation / air feed pre-heat

Flue gas cleaning : bag filter / EP / scrubber

Flue gas discharge

Thermal Treatment Processes

Combustion Gasification Pyrolysis

Combustion
Complete oxidation of waste through stoichiometric or excess air burning Common practice for combustion systems to operate at excess air conditions due to inconsistent nature of waste Primary purpose is to promote mixing and turbulence

Gasification
Carbonaceous fuel combusted partially under sub-stoichiometric conditions A combustible fuel gas rich in CO, H2 and saturated HCs (principally CH4) is produced Combustible gas then combusted in internal combustion engine under excess air conditions

Pyrolysis
Heating of organic substances in oxygen-free environment Endothermic reaction, therefore requires external heat sources to initiate reactions Produces gas, liquid and solid fractions

Thermal Treatment Technologies

Fluidised Bed Combustor

Rotary kiln

Stoker type

Fixed hearth

Pollutant Emissions from Incinerators

Particulate matters Heavy metals Acid gases Organic emissions

Particulate Matters
Examples : ash, dust, PM10 Generated while gas stream passes through waste bed, extracting ash, dust and char Constant exposure leads to increased risk of respiratory, cardiovascular and cancer-related death, pneumonia, asthma, lung function loss PM10 inhalable due to ability to penetrate human respiratory defense system

Heavy Metals
Examples : Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, As, Cr Incineration of waste such as batteries (cadmium and mercury) leads to evaporation of metals Chronic exposure to Pb brain damage, paralysis Repeated exposure to Hg damage to central nervous system and kidney

Acid Gases
Examples : HCl, SO2, NOx HCl generated during incineration of plastic waste (PVC, polymers) NOx generated due to poor mixing in incinerators HCl emissions can corrode metals, irritate the eyes, nose & throat Acute exposure to NOx results in cough and irritation to respiratory tract while chronic exposure leads to pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid in the lung)

Organic Emissions
Examples : CO, VOC, dioxin Generated due to incomplete combustion of waste in incinerators CO highly lethal by depriving the human body of oxygen due to its higher affinity to hemoglobin

Regulations
Specific regulations of guidelines for air pollution emissions from incinerators in Malaysia is not available Limits on pollutant emissions and operating conditions stated in written approval with reference to EIA for incinerator installation

Typical limits for air pollution emissions from incinerator

Parameter DOE Malaysia* Dioxin/Furan Particulate Halogen (Cl2) Halide (HCl) i) ii) Cadmium (Cd) Mercury (Hg) 0.1 ng/Nm3 30 mg/Nm3 200 mg/Nm3 HCl 100 mg/Nm3 Heavy Metals (mg/Nm3) 15 0.2 1.4 100 50 25 Gaseous Emissions (mg/Nm ) i) ii) SO2 NOx 200 (as SO3) 400 (as NO2) 125 20 Ringelmann 1 300 200 100 20 Ringelmann 1
3

Limits Europe** 0.1 ng/Nm3 100 mg/Nm3 Not Available 100 mg/Nm3 0.2 0.2 5 1

iii) Lead (Pb) iv) Copper (Cu) v) Chromium (Cr) vi) Arsenic (As)

iii) CO VOCs (mg/Nm3) Smoke Density

As stated in the written approval for the operation of the incinerator system (might vary according to type of incinerator)

**

Typical values, as stated in IPC Guidance Note S2 5.01: Waste Incineration

Environmental Control Systems

Air pollution control systems required if emission levels exceed imposed limits Examples of APC devices
Settling chambers Cyclones Electrostatic precipitators Wet/dry scrubbers

Dry Scrubber
Involves spraying of dry sorbent material into flue gas to remove acid gases by a combination of adsorption and neutralisation Flue gas then passed through filter to remove sorbent materials and particulates Solids collected at bottom of filter unit, flue gas discharges into atmosphere through stack

Spraying of dry sorbent materials (eg lime, sodium bicarbonate)

Treated flue gas discharge

Flue gas + sorbent materials + particulate matters

Flue gas from incinerator

Reaction chamber / modified section of ductwork

Fabric / ceramic filter

Stack
Collected solids

Schematic diagram of dry scrubber system

Wet Scrubber
Involves spraying of an aqueous solution of alkaline sorbent material into flue gas Removes acid gases and particulate matter through absorption and chemical reaction with scrubbing liquor Cleaned flue gas passed through demister unit to remove droplets and re-heater to eliminate any visible plume before discharge to atmosphere

Aqueous solution of alkaline sorbent material Cleaned flue gas

Treated flue gas discharge

Flue gas from incinerator

Flue gas & sorbent solution contacting system (eg venturi throat, packings)

Demister unit

Re-heater

Stack

Collected liquid (mixture of solids, particulates & unreacted sorbent)

Settling & filtration Liquid filtrate recycle

Solid cake for disposal

Schematic diagram of wet scrubber system

Estimation of Power Generation

Typical MSW has energy content of about 10 MJ/kg An incinerator burning 10 ton/hr is releasing 27.8 MW of heat If this heat were used in a steam cycle to generate electricity with 20% efficiency, then 5.56 MW of electricity would be produced

 A typical net power export potential, which is the difference between the power generated less that needed internally by the process, of an incinerator system is 0.5 MWh/ton (Whiting and Schwager, 1997) A typical incinerator for the city of Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to produce 3,000 tonnes of solid waste daily in the near future (NSTP, 24 May 1999) could produce 63 MW of electricity

A waste to energy plant

Ash Management
Ash
Melted in furnace at high temperatures (1,300 to 1,400oC) resulting in melted slag Stabilised with addition of lime

Utilisation
Produced slag used for soil treatment, gardening material and cement after further treatment

Valuable metals Non-combustibles

Slag Steam turbine Chemical treatment

Application of zero emission concept in ash management

Alternative Technologies
Plasma technology Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) Microwave technology

Plasma Technology
Plasma superheated or ionised gas Plasma torch
Can operate at more than 10x the temperature of incinerators (at 5,000 14,000oC) Complete dissociation of waste matter (organic & inorganic) into elemental compounds for energy recovery & material recycling Extreme temperature dissociates atoms in inorganic material into simple gases while simultaneously melting inorganic materials By-products : clean synthesis gas (energy source) and inert slag

Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF)

Solid waste that is processed to serve as fuel for boilers meant for production of steam and electricity Waste is sorted, reduced in size and refined by removal of non-combustibles such as metals and glass to reduce the level of heterogeneity RDF produced are more homogeneous lead to more stable combustion
facilitate more precise combustion control improve burnout produce more stable steaming rate

Recyclable materials are recovered in the processing line

Microwave Technology
Microwave frequency range from 300 MHz 300 GHz in electromagnetic wave spectrum Application : Sludge drying, sterilisation of infectious waste Sludge drying Removal of water from sludge waste (with moisture up to 90%) to reduce disposal cost Microwave provides rapid volumetric heating (from inside out) More efficient than conventional convective drying by up to 30x

Conclusions
Incineration BPEO in waste management when carried out to the latest standards with energy recovery followed by landfilling of the solid residues Advantages of incineration : prolong lifespan of landfill through volume reduction, recovery of energy from waste, treatment of infectious and toxic waste Incineration plays an active role in zero emission concept

THANK YOU