Reactivity characterization of municipal solid waste and biomass

The composition, heating value, and reactivity of different municipal and industrial solid waste materials were studied and compared with biomass and coal samples. Reactivity characterization was performed in a vertical tube reactor by dropping a pelletized sample on a porous grid and monitoring the conversion of the sample by Fourier-transform infrared spetroscopy. Samples were tested in ambient oxygen atmosphere at three temperatures typical to incinerator applications, and in reduced oxygen atmospheres, that better represents conditions near the fuel feeding points in incinerators. Thermogravimetrical analysis was used to analyze selected samples and reactivity information was compared with the vertical tube reactor results. This research provides information on the material composition and reactivity for utilization of munical solid waste and sewage sludge in incineration applications. Comparison of two characterization methods illustrates that the characterization method has a significant effect on the reaction rate results, with the implication that the reaction characterization method should be selected to represent the actual conditions of the application.