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  • WASTE TRANSFORMATION

Why Transform Solid Waste?

  1. Efficient storage, handling and transport

  2. Reduce disposal cost

  3. Stabilize waste

  4. Destroy toxic elements (chemicals or biological entities)

  5. Generate electrical energy

  6. Re-use

 

 Methods of Solid Waste transformation

  • Physical Methods

  • Chemical Methods

  • Biological Methods

 

Physical Transformations

 

1. Component Separation or Sorting

• Done mechanically or manually, at source or at a transfer station

• Key process to recover recyclables and remove Haz waste components

 

2. Mechanical Vol. Reduction or Densification

• Reduces storage, transport and disposal costs

• Paper, cardboard, plastics, and aluminum cans are baled using balers

• Waste collection vehicles are equipped with compaction mechanisms

• Fireplace logs from recycled paper and cardboard (re-use)

 

3. Mechanical Size Reduction

• Makes waste more uniform and reduces the average size

• Shredding, grinding, and milling

• Tree mulcher (shreds trees into wooden chips for landscaping application)

• Tire shredder

• Shredding of organic waste improves efficiency of composting

 

Chemical Transformations

 

1. Combustion (or chemical oxidation)

• Combustion is carried out in the presence of enough air to oxidize the organic matter

• Key products are N2, CO2, H2O, O2, Ash, and Heat is generated (exothermic reactions)

• Used for waste to energy plants

 

2. Pyrolysis

• Thermal reactions in absence of oxygen

• Endothermic reactions (heat is sucked by the reaction)

• Organic fraction transforms into H2, CH4, CO2, trace gases, tar/oil, acetic acid, acetone, and char (carbon)

 

3. Gasification

• Partial combustion of carbonaceous fuel to generate combustible fuel gas rich in CO, H2, saturated hydrocarbons (CH4)

• Internal combustion engine can be used to burn the combustible fuel gas to generate energy

 

Biological Transformations

• Applicable only to organic fraction of waste

• The end product - compost is a humus like material used for soil conditioning applications or to produce methane gas

 

1. Aerobic Composting

• Decomposition of organic fraction of waste in presence of oxygen

• The rate of degradation is a function of these key factors: organic fraction in waste, temperature, moisture content, and available nutrients

• Key reaction products include: resistant organic matter (containing lignin), CO2, H2O, NH3, sulfates, and Heat

 

 

1. Anaerobic Digestion

• Decomposition of organic fraction of waste in absence of oxygen (an-aerobic)

• Key reaction products include: resistant organic matter, CH4 and CO2, H2S, NH3, sulfates, and Heat

• Odor issues due to formation of waste

•CH4 and CO2 equally constitute about 99% of total gas production

• Resistant organic matter is a sludge with relatively high water content. Hence, needs dewatering before disposal or transportation

 

INEWCORP'S MAIN TECHNOLOGIES FOR WASTE 

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