Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization
This study explores the co-pelletization of sludge with landfill-mined plastic waste as a method to create high-energy refuse-derived fuel (RDF), addressing both plastic and sludge waste streams. Key variables used in RDF pelletization included sludge-to-plastic mixing ratios (50:50, 75:25, and 100:...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/2/52 |
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| author | Wittawat Wulyapash Awassada Phongphiphat Johann Fellner Sirintornthep Towprayoon |
| author_facet | Wittawat Wulyapash Awassada Phongphiphat Johann Fellner Sirintornthep Towprayoon |
| author_sort | Wittawat Wulyapash |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the co-pelletization of sludge with landfill-mined plastic waste as a method to create high-energy refuse-derived fuel (RDF), addressing both plastic and sludge waste streams. Key variables used in RDF pelletization included sludge-to-plastic mixing ratios (50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 wt%), mold temperatures (100 °C and 120 °C), and compression pressures (60–80 MPa). Results showed that the characteristics of pellets improved considerably as the mass percentage of plastic waste increased. The 75% sludge mixture produced pellets with high compressive strength (15.9–16.4 MPa), indicating rigid and ductile properties, and achieved a calorific value of up to 33.4 MJ/kg. Mercury levels of the RDF (0.02–0.04 mg/MJ) met solid recovered fuel standards. However, the elevated chlorine content (>3 wt%<sub>db</sub>) highlighted the necessity of removing PVC from the plastic waste before pelletization. Carbon emission factors for the pellets (23–25 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/GJ) were comparable to commercial RDFs and notably lower than coal, demonstrating their potential as a sustainable alternative fuel source. An assessment of the entire production and utilization chain, including sludge drying, plastic sorting, pelletization, and combustion, revealed that co-pelletization reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 24.3% compared to current practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6558d517278475498e0e568b3173df9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6558d517278475498e0e568b3173df92025-08-20T02:28:33ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212025-03-011025210.3390/recycling10020052Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-PelletizationWittawat Wulyapash0Awassada Phongphiphat1Johann Fellner2Sirintornthep Towprayoon3The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, ThailandThe Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, ThailandInstitute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, AustriaThe Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, ThailandThis study explores the co-pelletization of sludge with landfill-mined plastic waste as a method to create high-energy refuse-derived fuel (RDF), addressing both plastic and sludge waste streams. Key variables used in RDF pelletization included sludge-to-plastic mixing ratios (50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 wt%), mold temperatures (100 °C and 120 °C), and compression pressures (60–80 MPa). Results showed that the characteristics of pellets improved considerably as the mass percentage of plastic waste increased. The 75% sludge mixture produced pellets with high compressive strength (15.9–16.4 MPa), indicating rigid and ductile properties, and achieved a calorific value of up to 33.4 MJ/kg. Mercury levels of the RDF (0.02–0.04 mg/MJ) met solid recovered fuel standards. However, the elevated chlorine content (>3 wt%<sub>db</sub>) highlighted the necessity of removing PVC from the plastic waste before pelletization. Carbon emission factors for the pellets (23–25 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/GJ) were comparable to commercial RDFs and notably lower than coal, demonstrating their potential as a sustainable alternative fuel source. An assessment of the entire production and utilization chain, including sludge drying, plastic sorting, pelletization, and combustion, revealed that co-pelletization reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 24.3% compared to current practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/2/52refuse-derived fuelwaste-to-energyfuel standardsgreenhouse gasclimate change mitigation |
| spellingShingle | Wittawat Wulyapash Awassada Phongphiphat Johann Fellner Sirintornthep Towprayoon Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization Recycling refuse-derived fuel waste-to-energy fuel standards greenhouse gas climate change mitigation |
| title | Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization |
| title_full | Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization |
| title_short | Exploring Refuse-Derived Fuel Production from Seafood-Processing Sludge and Landfill-Mined Plastic Waste Co-Pelletization |
| title_sort | exploring refuse derived fuel production from seafood processing sludge and landfill mined plastic waste co pelletization |
| topic | refuse-derived fuel waste-to-energy fuel standards greenhouse gas climate change mitigation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/2/52 |
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