Waste-to-Energy Process to Recover Dangerous Pollutants in an Environmental Protected Area

Abstract

The present study aims to extract the polluting material from a lagoon and use it as an alternative fuel in cement industries. To this end, in the methodology will analyze two alternatives for the waste: fuel generation and incineration. The polluting material from the Arganda lagoon has highly calorific value to be used as fuel. Thus, not only are these wastes used, but also an area with potentially hazardous waste is decontaminated. After the extraction, which due to the characteristics of the material is chosen for the novel pumping extraction, and subsequent generation of fuel, the process for using this waste is through the distribution of the created fuel to nine cement plants in Spain, leading to significant environmental benefits. The results of the process shows an energy efficiency of 97% for using the waste as fuel, and a consumed energy of approximately 6000 kWh/t·waste to the process that leads to the desired environmental benefit. The use of waste contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions and a decrease in the use of fossil fuels.

Keywords

• waste to fuel
• circular economy
• climate change
• contaminated soils
• cement plants
• CO₂ emissions