Pyrolysis kinetics of refuse-derived fuel

Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) was mechanically separated from municipal solid w aste (MSW) in a 300 TPD (tons per day) waste pretreatment plant. Pyrolysis of the RDF produced approximately 28% of oils, and 30% of noncondensible hy drocarbon gases and 42% of solid residues at 773 K. Thermal gravimetric ana lysis (TGA) techniques were used in quantitative prediction of the RDF pyro lysis rate. The global pyrolysis reaction rate was calculated from key comp onent fractions (paper, LDPE, HDPE, PS, and PVC) of RDF using the weighed s um method. Good agreement was found in pyrolysis kinetics between RDF itsel f and the weighed sum method of the plastic components in RDF. Pyrolysis of RDF in the fixed-bed reactor also had a similar result. This approach allo ws one to easily account for RDF composition variations, thus rendering the model more generally valid. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.