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Environmental Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste by Two-Stage Plasma Gasification

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Ramos

    (INEGI-FEUP, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Carlos Afonso Teixeira

    (CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Abel Rouboa

    (INEGI-FEUP, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
    CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

Abstract

Plasma gasification is a thermal treatment successfully applied to waste streams, especially for solid residues. It sets an upgrade to more common waste-to-energy (WtE) techniques as incineration or gasification, granting lower levels of pollutant emissions, less landfilled materials and higher conversion efficiencies and producer gas quality. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of plasma gasification for one ton of a defined stream of solid waste is presented and compared to the hypothetical outcomes of incineration, highlighting the need to implement such sustainable techniques rather than more polluting ones. CML 2001 methodology was applied, enabling the evaluation of eleven impact categories, all of them depicting avoided burdens for the environment. Enhanced efficiency and cleanliness were seen due to the plasma step and to the replacement of part of the electrical grid mix by the produced electricity. Plasma gasification presented an overall better performance than incineration, portraying savings in energy and material resources as well as lower emissions to freshwater. Additionally, lower amounts of air contaminants were seen as well as almost triple of the produced electricity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Ramos & Carlos Afonso Teixeira & Abel Rouboa, 2019. "Environmental Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste by Two-Stage Plasma Gasification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:137-:d:194245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Xiongchao Lin & Wenshuai Xi & Jinze Dai & Caihong Wang & Yonggang Wang, 2020. "Prediction of Slag Characteristics Based on Artificial Neural Network for Molten Gasification of Hazardous Wastes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Matheus Oliveira & Ana Ramos & Tamer M. Ismail & Eliseu Monteiro & Abel Rouboa, 2022. "A Review on Plasma Gasification of Solid Residues: Recent Advances and Developments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Ramos, Ana & Rouboa, Abel, 2022. "Life cycle thinking of plasma gasification as a waste-to-energy tool: Review on environmental, economic and social aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    6. Hosseinzadeh, Ahmad & Zhou, John L. & Li, Xiaowei & Afsari, Morteza & Altaee, Ali, 2022. "Techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of hydrogen production processes using bio-waste as renewable energy resource," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

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