Kinetic Modeling of Co-Pyrogasification in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management: Towards Sustainable Resource Recovery and Energy Generation

FERNANDEZ, ANABEL; ZALAZAR-GARCÍA, DANIELA; LORENZO-DONCEL, CARLA; YEPES MAYA, DIEGO MAURICIO; SILVA LORA, ELECTO EDUARDO; RODRIGUEZ, ROSA; MAZZA, GERMÁN

Sustainability

MDPI

Año: 2024 vol. 16

This study addresses the co-pyrogasification of municipal solid waste (MSW) from the Environmental Technology Park, San Juan, Argentina. This process involves heating waste at high temperatures in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free atmosphere as a sustainable strategy for waste management and energy generation. The principal objective is to focus on understanding the MSW co-pyrogasification kinetics to enhance performance in reactor design. A representative sample of MSW collected over a month was analyzed, focusing on the variation in mass proportions of plastic, organic matter, and paper. The empirical methodology included the deconvolution of macro-TGA curves and deep learning algorithms to predict and validate macro-TG data during co-pyrogasification. The findings reveal that MSW is a solid matrix more easily treated on thermochemical platforms, with kinetic and thermodynamic parameters favoring its processing. This approach suggests that MSW co-pyrogasification may represent a feasible alternative for resource recovery and bioenergy production, supporting the policies for the transition to a cleaner future and a circular economy.