Refine
Document Type
- Doctoral thesis (5)
Has Fulltext
- yes (5)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (5)
Language
- English (5) (remove)
Keywords
- Abfallwirtschaft (2)
- Nachhaltigkeit (2)
- ASBR (1)
- Abfall (1)
- Afrika (1)
- Biogas (1)
- Biogasgewinnung (1)
- Biohydrogen (1)
- Biowasser (1)
- Bottom-Up (1)
Institute
Thermal recycling of plastic waste using pyrolysis-gasification process for energy production
(2012)
The disposal of mixed waste in landfills, dump sites and open burning without material and energy recovery leads to resource loss, causes health problems, pollution and littering. Increasing energy demand for industrial and domestic application with rising costs due to scarcity motivates a constant search for alternative clean energy sources. Recovering energy from waste presents various incentives e.g. creating jobs, alleviating poverty, combating and mitigating climate change, protecting the environment and reducing dependence on traditional fuels sources. Hence, plastics end up in landfills, surface waters and ocean bed with serious negative impact on terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. Plastic waste with high calorific value (36-46MJ/kg) occupies the greatest portion of landfill space. Hence, using an appropriate technology to transform waste plastic to a hot gaseous mixture which is burned in-situ produces enormous amount of energy without pollution. Based on this hypothesis, the study objectives accomplished were to: 1.Characterise, quantify and classify waste fractions and plastic components common in MSW by manual sorting 2.Evaluate options for sustainable plastic waste management especially for developing countries 3.Design, construct, test and optimize an appropriate technology that applies pyrolysis and gasification processes to convert non-PVC plastic waste to energy 4.Assess the efficiency of the technology based on the functioning, the engineering, mass and energy analysis including socioeconomic and environmental impacts An integrated methodology involving review of current literature, field and laboratory experiments on mixed waste and plastic waste analysis was used. In addition, the pyrolysis-gasification technology (PGT) was conceptualised, designed, constructed, tested and optimised at BTU Cottbus, Germany; Lagos, Nigeria and Dschang, Cameroon. Field studies involving natural observation, interviews, personal discussions and visits to waste management organisations and disposal sites were conducted in various cities in the three case study countries. A resource-oriented manual sorting using the resource-recovery scavenging approach (RESA) simulating integration of scavenger’s activities in waste sorting was conducted at BTU and Lagos. Major results obtained include: •Characterization, quantification and classification of a dry sample of commingled MSW at Cottbus gave major waste fractions in order of decreasing abundance as 23.15% of residue waste, 19.75% of paper and cardboards, 17.80% of plastics, 14.63% of textiles and diapers, 10.06% of food waste and 9.55% of glass. An overall 33.21% of waste sample is compostable for manure, 52.2% usable as feedstock in the PG technology and 99.81% of total sample having a material or energy recovery potential. In Lagos, Nigeria main fractions were 29% of plastics, 36% of residue waste, 17% of soil/sand, 7% of paper with overall 41% usable as feedstock in PG technology, 39% compostable, 3% of recyclable (metal and glass). Sand can be recovered from the soil/sand fraction for construction. Excluding the sand/soil mixture, 83% of the total waste sample has potential for material and energy value. •An appropriate technology that applies principles of pyrolysis and gasification to convert non-PVC plastic waste to energy was designed, constructed, tested and optimized with respect to: (i) Successful functioning with conversion of averagely 98.51% of input constituting of 82.78-98.21% of charcoal and 96.72-99.27% of plastic to heat energy (ii) Evaluation of socioeconomic and environmental impacts based on pyrolysis and exhaust gas and ash residue analysis showed absence of VOCs, heavy metals and pollutant organic and inorganic compounds; (iii) Safety and risk assessment to indoor pollution is very low; (iv) Assessment of the WTA and WTP indicated that 94% of respondents in Lagos, Nigeria and Porto Novo, Benin were willing to accept and pay for this technology. Using the PG technology improves local communities’ ability to achieve clean, efficient and safe cooking and heating energy with potential for combine heat power generation.
The unprecedented population growth, rising in community living standard and urbanization have left most municipalities in African Countries grappling to find viable solutions to their waste management problems. Improper waste management is attributed to systemic failure of policy makers and municipal authorities to identify the most sustainable approach to dealing with it so as to meet environmental and socio-economic aspirations. This study aims to find a new approach involving people of different social, ethnic, gender and religious groups in the reconstruction of local waste management systems creating typical win-win situations. The main objectives of this research are as follows: • Investigates how gender affects solid waste planning and the influence of different social status of the community especially the role of households. • Examines the level of community involvement in solid waste management in terms of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. The case study area Cameroon “Africa in miniature” is used to highlight waste management burdens and challenges which are characteristic of most African cities. This research sought to answer one principal question: Can top-down approaches in municipal solid waste management be successful without sufficient community engagement and sense of ownership? Top-down approaches where considered in terms of policies and technology transfer. An integrated methodology was used involving a desk study, field survey for situation analysis, household questionnaire survey, habitat scale, “waste to cash seminar” for stakeholders’ analysis and focus group discussion. The outcome of this holistic investigation reveals a strong concern for a clean environment thus citizens’ participation and awareness creation is so vital to take the message to grass roots level. Municipal waste collection services are more effective when they work in collaboration with community led primary collection from households. It is clear that where a reliable service can be guaranteed communities are willing to pay for it. Building the capacity of communities implies empowering community to sustainably manage their waste. An integration of several factors is vital to increase sustainability. However, this does not undermine the fact that the best implementation in some situations is some sort of a middle ground between Top-down and Bottom-up.
In this study, the aims were to investigate the die-off levels of pathogens attainable under conventional biotreatments, introduce alternative hygienization options and study their performance at eliminating pathogens from biowaste. In addition, the study investigated feasibility of biotreatment of potato peels waste (PPW) as management option for the peels waste generated in Dar es Salaam city. Pathogens inactivation studies using simulated biowaste (moisture ˃77%w/w) composed of PPW spiked with Escherichia coli and Salmonella senftenbergensis at laboratory-scale resulted into low temperature-time patterns of the aerobic In-vessel composting system and turned the process anaerobic thus demonstrated inefficiency at eliminating the spiked bacteria. Likewise, two-phase anaerobic digestion at continuous stirred tank reactor confirmed incapable at effecting complete inactivation of the bacteria unless substrate residence is prolonged above 72hrs. These distasteful confirmations inevitably advocate the importance of applying either pre- and/or post-biotreatment hygienization processes on biowaste for safer biotreatments. Existing hygienization options including acid/lime conditioning and batch pasteurization were applied, their hygienization efficacy investigated and the latter validated. Acetic acid treatment of biowaste at pH value 4 for 5days or lime treatment at pH value 11-12 for 1day brought complete die-off in E. coli and S. senftenbergensis. Temperature-time combination at 65°C for 30min was sufficient at effecting ˃1log cycle die-off of the spiked enteropathogens with z-Value of 11˚C for S. senftenbergensis hence validates the temperature-time regime of 70˚C for 30min and 70˚C for 60min set by U.S-EPA/625/R-92/013 and Regulations (EC) No. 208/2006 respectively. In addition, alternative hygienization options namely UV radiation and passive solar heating (PSH) were proposed, applied and evaluated. Modes of application and achievable bacteria die-off for all hygienization options are given in Chapter 2 to 6 of this document. Owing to its small investment capital (mostly do yourself construction), independence from fuel supplies and low running costs, the study highly recommend PSH as environmental friendly and economic viable pre- and post- biotreatment hygienization option especially for tropical climates and developing countries with adequate sunshine. In vessel co-composting of PPW with yard-waste at 6:1 ratio gave microbiologically safe and good quality compost. Endowed with higher CO2 removal, mesophilic/thermophilic two-phase anaerobic processing of PPW showed comparable results to biogasification from other biowaste. Biogas productivity from PPW was 2.3lNbiogas/l.day with an average CH4 yield of 0.13-0.35m3/kgoTS input having 58% CH4. The digestion resulted into H2S removal from above LoQ to less than 230ppm with 81% VS removal at substrate OLR of 2.4kgoTS/m3.day input without sign of inhibition. It is estimated that 1.0m3biogas with 5hrs burning potential and equivalent to 3.5kg firewood can be produced from 10.2kg of PPW anaerobic digested. The resulting biogas production would complement household energy need thus conserve forest resources which are subjected to high deforestation rate estimated at 4.1kilotons of wood per day as fuelwood. Digestate resulting from the anaerobic reactors would make valuable fertilizer to urban agriculture thus enhance soil fertility and productivity.
Aim of this study
The aim of this research is to develop batch scale and continuous reactor systems to evaluate technical and practical feasibility of sequential hydrogen and methane from food waste by two step dark fermentation process.
Methodology
The effects of limiting factors, like pH, temperature, as well as inoculum sources and pretreatment methods on H₂ yields were studies in batch assays. In addition, the feasibility of sequencing producing H₂+CH₄ via two stage dark fermentation process was evaluated in lab-scale tests based on batch assay results. Three kinds of Acid producing reactor, like CSTR, semi-percolator, and ASBR had been tested for bioH₂ production and well inoculated ASBR methane was used for further degradation of volatile organic acids produced in these acid producing reactor which acts as by-products of bioH₂. Different limiting factors on fermentation process have been investigated in each reactor type for optimum energy recovery. Monodigestion of food waste for methane production was also studied and used as reference value for energy recovery from food waste.
Main results and technical application from this study
Hydrogen production results from food waste were shown to be possible with aerated inoculum in batch assays in thermophilic range, with highest H₂ yields of 19.72L/(kg oTS) from food waste. The inoculated HPB (Hydrogen producing bacterial) sludge taken from ASBR acid producing reactor was proved the optimum H₂ yields with the value of 61.41 L/(kg oTS) in this batch test. Inoculum to substrates ratio at 3 was found the best situ for H₂ yields in batch test. Even H₂ productivity at hyperthermophilic range has been confirmed with faster and higher performance, thermophilic fermentation process was taken in continuously lab-scale investigation due to too high process requirements in hyperthermophilic process.
Two-stage sequencing producing H₂+CH₄ was shown the potential in H₂ yields in the first acid producing phase. Methane yields from monodigestion in ASBR methane reactor with OLR of 3.88 kg oTS/(m3.d) and average CH₄ yields at 312.71L/kg oTS were achieved and act as reference value for total energy recovery.
In CSTR+ASBRMe system, the max. hydrogen yields of 69.15 L/(kg oTS) and CH₄ yields at 291.77. L/(kg oTS) were achieved; In semi-Percolator+ASBRMe system, the max. hydrogen yields of 77.34 L/kg oTS and average CH₄ yields at 293.87 L/(kg oTS) were achieved; In ASBR+ASBRMe system, the max. hydrogen yields of 196.85L/(kg oTS) and average CH₄ yields at 293.87 L/(kg oTS) were achieved. The max. H₂ concentration in hydrolysis gas was got in ASBR acid producing reactor at 54%.
The experimental results indicated that food wastes can be considered as suitable substrates for BioH₂ and CH₄ sequencing production. Moreover, the less production cost for H₂ due to higher OLR and shorting HRT.
In the quest of finding sustainable solution to solid waste management problems in Ghana, this research formulated as its goal, to mitigate policy constraints to sustainable solid waste management in Ghana. This research goal and objectives were addressed through an empirical study that involved interviews and administration of two sets of questionnaires, one set to members of parliament and the other to members of the general public. The development of questionnaires was influenced by a conceptual policy development model “The Bridge Model of Policy Development”. Administration of questionnaires to members of the general public was accomplished through random sampling within churches and mosques in three cities in Ghana; Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. The percentage response for members of the general public was 38.9% and that for members of parliament was 18%. Prioritization of policy options was achieved through “Differentiated Perception Ranking”, a method devised by this research process. The results revealed the relative importance of constraints to sustainable solid waste management in Ghana, the relative difficulty of mitigating constraints, and the relative difficulty of implementing policy options among others. These results were integrated with the principles of sustainability into producing a policy package for sustainable solid waste management in Ghana.