The viability to produce RDF from a MBT installation

Abstract

Introduction: In Portugal, the Strategic Urban Solid Waste Plan defines the management strategies for the period 2015-2020. According to this plan that recognizes waste as a resource, it is intended to respond to new challenges in the field of integrated waste management and the life cycle of materials. Objetives: To characterize qualitatively and quantitatively the lines of the rejects of a Unit of Mechanical and Biological Treatment (TMB) of an Urban Waste Management System; Analyze fuel derived from waste (CDR) produced from the respective discard. Methods: The work started with the physical characterization of the rejects, making a manual sorting of the collected sample and from these materials a RDF was produced, which was characterized according with the related normative documents. Results: About 240 ton of refused are produced daily, where 29% is paper / cardboard, 6% is plastic and 59% are textiles, wood and other materials with energy potential. The obtained RDF had, in average terms, values expressed as wet basis, moisture content of approximately 33%, ash of 15.5% and lower heating value of 24.1 MJ / kg, with the concentration of chlorine 0.75%, slightly higher than that found in the bibliography. Regarding the concentration of mercury, 0.004 mg/MJ was obtained. The concentration of trace metals present in the sample, and compared to the bibliographic records, are within the expected. Conclusions: Based on the standard NP 4486:2008, it is possible to consider the RDF as a possible substitute for fossil fuel in a biomass power plant for energy production.

Keywords

• RDF
• solid waste management
• MBT
• , energy
• circular economy