IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2022i1p200-d1014170.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste and Assessment of Its Potential for Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Valorization

Author

Listed:
  • Khadija Sarquah

    (Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
    Berlin School of Technology, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Satyanarayana Narra

    (Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
    German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ), 04347 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Gesa Beck

    (Berlin School of Technology, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Uduak Bassey

    (Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
    Berlin School of Technology, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Edward Antwi

    (Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany)

  • Michael Hartmann

    (Berlin School of Technology, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Nana Sarfo Agyemang Derkyi

    (School of Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani P.O. Box 214, Ghana)

  • Edward A. Awafo

    (School of Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani P.O. Box 214, Ghana)

  • Michael Nelles

    (Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
    German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ), 04347 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

Reuse and recycling are preferred strategies in waste management to ensure the high position of waste resources in the waste management hierarchy. However, challenges are still pronounced in many developing countries, where disposal as a final solution is prevalent, particularly for municipal solid waste. On the other hand, refuse-derived fuel as a means of energy recovery provides a sustainable option for managing mixed, contaminated and residual municipal solid waste (MSW). This study provides one of the earliest assessments of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from MSW in Ghana through a case study in the cities of Accra and Kumasi. The residual/reject fractions (RFs) of MSW material recovery were characterized for thermochemical energy purposes. The studied materials had the potential to be used as RDF. The combustible portions from the residual fractions formed good alternative fuel, RDF, under the class I, II-III classification of the EN 15359:2011 standards. The RDF from only combustible mixed materials such as plastics, paper and wood recorded a significant increase in the lower heating value (28.66–30.24 MJ/kg) to the mass RF, with the presence of organics (19.73 to 23.75 MJ/kg). The chlorine and heavy metal content met the limits set by various standards. An annual RDF production of 12 to 57 kilotons is possible from the two cities. This can offset 10–30% of the present industrial coal consumption, to about 180 kiloton/yr CO 2 eq emissions and a net cost saving of USD 8.7 million per year. The market for RDF as an industrial alternative fuel is developing in Ghana and similar jurisdictions in this context. Therefore, this study provides insights into the potential for RDF in integrated waste management system implementation for socioeconomic and environmental benefits. This supports efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Khadija Sarquah & Satyanarayana Narra & Gesa Beck & Uduak Bassey & Edward Antwi & Michael Hartmann & Nana Sarfo Agyemang Derkyi & Edward A. Awafo & Michael Nelles, 2022. "Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste and Assessment of Its Potential for Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:200-:d:1014170
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/200/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/200/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khadija Sarquah & Satyanarayana Narra & Gesa Beck & Edward A. Awafo & Edward Antwi, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis; Characteristics and Trends of Refuse Derived Fuel Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Nii Nelson & Jo Darkwa & John Calautit & Mark Worall & Robert Mokaya & Eunice Adjei & Francis Kemausuor & Julius Ahiekpor, 2021. "Potential of Bioenergy in Rural Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Nobre, Catarina & Vilarinho, Cândida & Alves, Octávio & Mendes, Benilde & Gonçalves, Margarida, 2019. "Upgrading of refuse derived fuel through torrefaction and carbonization: Evaluation of RDF char fuel properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 66-76.
    4. Istrate, Ioan-Robert & Medina-Martos, Enrique & Galvez-Martos, Jose-Luis & Dufour, Javier, 2021. "Assessment of the energy recovery potential of municipal solid waste under future scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    5. Safwat Hemidat & Motasem Saidan & Salam Al-Zu’bi & Mahmoud Irshidat & Abdallah Nassour & Michael Nelles, 2019. "Potential Utilization of RDF as an Alternative Fuel to be Used in Cement Industry in Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-23, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Izabella Maj & Krzysztof Matus, 2023. "Aluminosilicate Clay Minerals: Kaolin, Bentonite, and Halloysite as Fuel Additives for Thermal Conversion of Biomass and Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Orlando Corigliano & Marco Iannuzzi & Crescenzo Pellegrino & Francesco D’Amico & Leonardo Pagnotta & Petronilla Fragiacomo, 2023. "Enhancing Energy Processes and Facilities Redesign in an Anaerobic Digestion Plant for Biomethane Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-29, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pan Zhang & Yongjun Du & Sijie Han & Qingan Qiu, 2022. "Global Progress in Oil and Gas Well Research Using Bibliometric Analysis Based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, July.
    2. Rocío González-Sánchez & Sara Alonso-Muñoz & María Sonia Medina-Salgado, 2023. "Circularity in waste management: a research proposal to achieve the 2030 Agenda," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 1520-1540, September.
    3. Yuxiang Yao & Chandhini Ramu & Allison Procher & Jennifer Littlejohns & Josephine M. Hill & James W. Butler, 2023. "Potential for Thermo-Chemical Conversion of Solid Waste in Canada to Fuel, Heat, and Electricity," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Chavando, José Antonio Mayoral & Silva, Valter Bruno & Tarelho, Luís A.C. & Cardoso, João Sousa & Eusébio, Daniela, 2022. "Snapshot review of refuse-derived fuels," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Adnan, Muflih A. & Hossain, Mohammad M. & Golam Kibria, Md, 2022. "Converting waste into fuel via integrated thermal and electrochemical routes: An analysis of thermodynamic approach on thermal conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    6. Rudolf Petráš & Julian Mecko & Ján Kukla & Margita Kuklová & Danica Krupová & Michal Pástor & Marcel Raček & Ivica Pivková, 2021. "Energy Stored in Above-Ground Biomass Fractions and Model Trees of the Main Coniferous Woody Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Kimball C. Chen & Matthew Leach & Mairi J. Black & Meron Tesfamichael & Francis Kemausuor & Patrick Littlewood & Terry Marker & Onesmus Mwabonje & Yacob Mulugetta & Richard J. Murphy & Rocio Diaz-Chav, 2021. "BioLPG for Clean Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Present and Future Feasibility of Technologies, Feedstocks, Enabling Conditions and Financing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
    8. Jagadale, Manisha & Gangil, Sandip & Jadhav, Mahesh, 2023. "Enhancing fuel characteristics of jute sticks (Corchorus Sp.) using fixed bed torrefaction process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    9. Carlos Castro & Margarida Gonçalves & Andrei Longo & Cândida Vilarinho & Manuel Ferreira & André Ribeiro & Nuno Pacheco & José C. Teixeira, 2023. "Influence of Temperature in the Thermo-Chemical Decomposition of Below-Stoichiometric RDF Char—A Macro TGA Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Inna Pitak & Gintaras Denafas & Arūnas Baltušnikas & Marius Praspaliauskas & Stasė-Irena Lukošiūtė, 2023. "Proposal for Implementation of Extraction Mechanism of Raw Materials during Landfill Mining and Its Application in Alternative Fuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, March.
    11. Magdalena Skrzyniarz & Marcin Sajdak & Monika Zajemska & Anna Biniek-Poskart & Józef Iwaszko & Andrzej Skibiński, 2023. "Possibilities of RDF Pyrolysis Products Utilization in the Face of the Energy Crisis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-19, September.
    12. Santa Margarida Santos & Catarina Nobre & Paulo Brito & Margarida Gonçalves, 2023. "Brief Overview of Refuse-Derived Fuel Production and Energetic Valorization: Applied Technology and Main Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    13. da Silva, Jean Constantino Gomes & Pereira, Jefferson Leque Claudio & Andersen, Silvia Layara Floriani & Moreira, Regina de Fatima Peralta Muniz & José, Humberto Jorge, 2020. "Torrefaction of ponkan peel waste in tubular fixed-bed reactor: In-depth bioenergetic evaluation of torrefaction products," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    14. Głód, Krzysztof & Lasek, Janusz A. & Supernok, Krzysztof & Pawłowski, Przemysław & Fryza, Rafał & Zuwała, Jarosław, 2023. "Torrefaction as a way to increase the waste energy potential," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    15. Safwat Hemidat & Ouafa Achouri & Loubna El Fels & Sherien Elagroudy & Mohamed Hafidi & Benabbas Chaouki & Mostafa Ahmed & Isla Hodgkinson & Jinyang Guo, 2022. "Solid Waste Management in the Context of a Circular Economy in the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, January.
    16. Catarina Viegas & Catarina Nobre & Ricardo Correia & Luísa Gouveia & Margarida Gonçalves, 2021. "Optimization of Biochar Production by Co-Torrefaction of Microalgae and Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Response Surface Methodology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, November.
    17. Marcin Jewiarz & Krzysztof Mudryk & Marek Wróbel & Jarosław Frączek & Krzysztof Dziedzic, 2020. "Parameters Affecting RDF-Based Pellet Quality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Yin Ting Chu & Jianzhao Zhou & Yuan Wang & Yue Liu & Jingzheng Ren, 2023. "Current State, Development and Future Directions of Medical Waste Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-28, January.
    19. Elisabetta Allevi & Maria Elena Giuli & Ruth Domínguez & Giorgia Oggioni, 2023. "Evaluating the role of waste-to-energy and cogeneration units in district heatings and electricity markets," Computational Management Science, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-49, December.
    20. Vhuthu Ndou & Isaac Tebogo Rampedi, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management Research: Global and South African Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:200-:d:1014170. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.