THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSING OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES: THERMAL EVENTS AND KINETICS OF PYROLYSIS

M. KIM; E. BUONOMO; P. BONELLI; A. L. CUKIERMAN

ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Lugar: PHILADELPHIA, USA; Año: 2010 vol. 32 p. 1207 - 1214

1556-7036

Thermal events and kinetics for the pyrolysis of binary mixtures constituted by equal proportions of polyethylene (PE) and some other representative components of municipal solid wastes (MSW)- cellulose, lignin, sawdust from a native wood species- are characterized by thermogravimetry from room temperature up to 750 ºC. Results for the individual MSW components show that pyrolysis of PE and cellulose begins at higher temperatures, proceeding more sharply than for lignin and the wood sawdust and also attaining the highest reaction rates. Two well-distinguishable peaks characterize the reaction rate profiles of the simulated mixtures, with the one corresponding to PE taking place at higher temperature. They point to negligible interactions between the components of the mixtures. The reaction rate profiles are properly described by an overall first-order decomposition model, which enables to evaluate kinetic parameters for the investigated PE-based mixtures. Differences in their pyrolytic behaviour, depending on the individual MSW constituent accompanying PE, are reflected in the estimated kinetic parameters.