Options for Valorizing Solid Wastes Armando McDonald Professor Renewable Materials Program
Presentation overview Municipal solid waste Industrial waste Plastic recycling & conversion Biomass conversion into fuels Heat and electricity Summary
Municipal solid waste 250 million tons MSW in the US (2010) 56% discarded 34% recovered 12% converted to energy 12% plastic in landfills (20% by volume) 12% of plastics recovered 27% HDPE and 21% PET recycling rates 42% biomass (wood/textiles/food/yard) http://www.epa.state.oh.us
Paper recycling waste Cardboard recycling Newsprint recycling Reject fibers & labels/tape/hot-melt Newsprint recycling shrinkwrap/bags/labels/etc. Obtain mixed plastic waste (25 tons/d small plant)
Plastic valorization Mechanized sorting to add value 12% of plastic recovered (segregated) 27% HDPE is recycled (milk jugs, $500/ton) 21% PET is recycled (coke bottles, $500/ton) Increase level of recycling for local use Most is sent to china for processing Mixed plastic stream (-$24/ton) Variable properties Converted to plastic/composite products Converted to liquid fuels
Mixed plastic waste options Mixed waste ground, compounded & processed into products HDPE (strength 17 MPa) Mixed (strength 9 MPa) Properties can be enhanced by: Additives (17 MPa) Wood fiber (13 MPa)
Pyrolysis of mixed plastics to fuels Can use mixed plastic grades 1-2,4-7 + rubber Pyrolysis “thermal cracking” to hydrocarbons Can be used directly as heating fuel Refined to diesel & jetfuel Pyrolyzed HDPE product profile C7 C12 C14 C10 C16
Biomass valorization Wood & yard-waste Value added chemicals Fuel pellets Cellulosic ethanol & bioplastics Value added chemicals Food waste Lactic & succinic acid
Gasification of waste/biomass Can handle a range of feed-stocks High temperature conversion to produce synthesis gas (syn-gas) Combustion to produce electricity turbines or engine Converted to chemicals Methanol, hydrocarbons
Waste/Biomass Production of syngas Gasification Gas Cleaning Syngas Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis Methanol synthesis Synthesis of liquid fuel hydrocarbons Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) Jet fuel/Diesel Gasoline
Pyrolysis of biomass Wood, textiles, food, yard-wastes Pyrolysis “thermal cracking” to bio-oil & biochar Bio-oil used as heating fuel upgraded to biofuel Biochar Soil amendment Remove contaminants
Heat & electricity http://www.deltawayenergy.com/wte-tools/wte-anatomy/
Heat & electricity Reduces landfill volume 1 MW supply 1000 homes 10 MW plant uses 10 BDT wood/hr http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7990 http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=8010
Summary Gain value Reduced landfill volume Segregation of plastics for recycling Conversion of mixed plastics to fuels & materials Biomass can be converted to fuels & chemicals Produce heat & electricity
Questions?