Microstructural analysis of marl stabilized with municipal solid waste and nano-MgO

Municipal solid waste(MSW)is accumulating over elapsed time across the world,and it is observed in many projects associated with weak soils,such as marl.Therefore,effective solutions to the environmental problem are essential.Conventional techniques for stabilizing marl generally use substances such as lime and cement,which could exacerbate pollution.For this,some new stabilizers,e.g.nano-MgO,are used.There are large quantities of marls and MSW in Shiraz City,Iran.The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using nano-MgO as a green low-carbon binder to remove MSW from the environment and make construction projects more cost-effective.Consolidated drained shear tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical behaviors of the nano-MgO treated marl specimens at high normal stresses.The marl specimens containing MSW percentages of 15%,25%,35%,and 45%and nano-MgO percentages of 0.25%,0.5%,0.75%,and 1%,were used.It is found that the marl containing 15%and 25%MSW and 0.5%nano-MgO at 28-d curing can perform cation exchange and form new cementitious products.The soils with merely MSW show good performance due to the removal of the kaolinite and the formation of brucite.However,the soil with 25%MSW and 0.5%nano-MgO shows the same strength enhancement as the specimen with the optimal nano-MgO(0.75%)through the formation of dolomite,with a 20.59%increase in strain energy(SE).

A perspective analysis on municipal solid waste(MSW) energy recovery in China

The paper analysed the current situation of municipal solid waste(MSW) quantity and quality in China and the changing tendencies of its composition. Further more, the energy value of MSW was discussed. To the point of the technical and economic aspects, the feasibility of the energy recovery from MSW was also analysed. The conclusion is that the energy can be effectively recovered through a landfill gas utilization process and the energy produced by an incineration process. Through a suitable energy recovery process, it is possible to improve the economic viability of a MSW treatment process.

Technology of comprehensive disposal and utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW)

The project for treating MSW of 200 tons each day was built in Yibin, Sichuan Province of China. The disposal processes are: separation and selection of usable resources; compost and fermentation of “heavy” organic waste (kitchen, garden composting rubbish); incineration of “light” waste (plastic, paper, wood and bamboo etc.) and landfill of inorganic waste. The thermal energy generated in the process can be used as 1/3 of the whole energy for drying fertilizers. In the process, there is no wastewater drainage, and air emissions can be effectively controlled by a series of measures. The sanitary and environmental indicators of disposal site meet the national standards. This project has worked well for two years. It not only disposes of and reduces the MSW, but also retrieves the resource effectively. The organic fertilizer has been applied in the ten thousand acres of fields, with productivity increase by more than 10%.

Intended process water management concept for the mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste

Accumulating operational experience in both aerobic and anaerobic mechanical biological waste treatment （MBT） makes it increasingly obvious that controlled water management would substantially reduce the cost of MBT and also enhance resource recovery of the organic and inorganic fraction. The MBT plant at Gescher, Germany, is used as an example in order to determine the quantity and composition of process water and leachates from intensive and subsequent rotting, pressing water from anaerobic digestion and scrubber water from acid exhaust air treatment, and hence prepare an MBT water balance. The potential of, requirements for and limits to internal process water reuse as well as the possibilities of resource recovery from scrubber water are also examined. Finally, an assimilated process water management concept with the purpose of an extensive reduction of wastewater quantity and freshwater demand is presented.

Optimization of Hydrothermal Treatment Parameters to Produce Chlorine-Free Alternative Solid Fuel from Plastic-Contained Municipal Solid Waste

An experimental study of the treatment of plastic-contained Japanese MSW （municipal solid waste） employing 1 ton capacity hydrothermal reactor to produce chlorine-free solid fuel has been performed. The system applies medium-pressure saturated steam at about 2 MPa in a stirred reactor for certain holding period. It was shown that the products exhibited organic chlorine conversion into inorganic chlorine, which can then be water washed. To obtain an optimal operating condition, the temperature and holding period was integrated into one parameter called RS （reaction severity）. It was found that to convert 75% organic chlorine in the MSW, the optimum RS number correlates to an operating temperature of about 225℃ and holding period of 90 min, or 235 ℃ for 60 min. Since hydrothermal treatment is a batch process, a shorter holding period is preferable to increase the number of batches and indirectly increase its processing capacity.

Environmental monitoring and fuzzy synthetic evaluation of municipal solid waste transfer stations in Beijing in 2001-2006

Transfer station(TS)is an integral part of present-day municipal solid waste(MSW)management systems.To provide information for the incorporation of waste facilities within the current integrated waste management system,the authors measured the existing environmental quality at five MSW TSs.Discharged wastewater,air,and noise were monitored and assayed at the five TSs in Beijing in 2001-2006 during rainy seasons(RSs)and dry seasons(DSs).Except Ammonia(NH_3)and hydrogen sulfide(H_2S),the analytical results of...

Engineering properties for high kitchen waste content municipal solid waste

Engineering properties of municipal solid waste （MSW） depend largely on the waste＇s initial compositionand degree of degradation. MSWs in developing countries usually have a high kitchen waste content（called HKWC MSW）. After comparing and analyzing the laboratory and field test results of physicalcomposition, hydraulic properties, gas generation and gas permeability, and mechanical properties forHKWC MSW and low kitchen waste content MSW （called LKWC MSW）, the following findings wereobtained： （1） HKWC MSW has a higher initial water content （IWC） than LKWC MSW, but the field capacitiesof decomposed HKWC and LKWC MSWs are similar; （2） the hydraulic conductivity and gaspermeability for HKWC MSW are both an order of magnitude smaller than those for LKWC MSW; （3）compared with LKWC MSW, HKWC MSW has a higher landfill gas （LFG） generation rate but a shorterduration and a lower potential capacity; （4） the primary compression feature for decomposed HKWCMSW is similar to that of decomposed LKWC MSW, but the compression induced by degradation ofHKWC MSW is greater than that of LKWC MSW; and （5） the shear strength of HKWC MSW changessignificantly with time and strain. Based on the differences of engineering properties between these twokinds of MSWs, the geo-environmental issues in HKWC MSW landfills were analyzed, including highleachate production, high leachate mounds, low LFG collection efficiency, large settlement and slopestability problem, and corresponding advice for the management and design of HKWC MSW landfills wasrecommended.

Microstructures and thermal properties of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

To analyze the feasibility of utilization of thermal technology in fly ash treatment, thermal properties and microstructures of municipal solid waste incineration （MSW1） fly ash were studied by measuring the chemical element composition, specific surface area, pore sizes, functional groups, TEM image, mineralogy and DSC-TG curves of raw and sintered fly ash specimens. The results show that MSWI fly ash particles mostly have irregular shapes and non-typical pore structure, and the supersonic treatment improves the pore structure; MSWI fly ash consists of Such crystals as SiO2, CaSO4 and silica-aluminates, and some soluble salts like KCl and NaCl. During the sintering process, mineralogy changes largely and novel solid solutions are produced gradually with the rise of temperature. Therefore, the utilization of a proper thermal technology not only destructs those persistent organic toxicants but also stabilizes hazardous heavy metals in MSWI fly ash.

Impact of open dumping of municipal solid waste on soil properties in mountainous region

This paper presents the effect of open dumping of municipal solid waste(MSW) on soil characteristics in the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh, India. The solid waste of dumpsite contains various complex characteristics with organic fractions of the highest proportions. As leachate percolates into the soil, it migrates contaminants into the soil and affects soil stability and strength. The study includes the geotechnical investigation of dump soil characteristics and its comparison with the natural soil samples taken from outside the proximity of dumpsites. The geochemical analysis of dumpsite soil samples was also carried out by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS).Visual inspection revealed that the MSW consists of high fraction of organics, followed by paper. The soil samples were collected from five trial pits in the dumpsites at depths of 0.5 m, 1 m and 1.5 m. Then the collected soil samples were subjected to specific gravity test, grain size analysis, Atterberg’s limit test,compaction test, direct shear test, California bearing ratio(CBR) test and permeability analysis. The study indicated that the dumpsite soils from four study regions show decreasing trends in the values of maximum dry density(MDD), specific gravity, cohesion and CBR, and increasing permeability as compared to the natural soil. The results show that the geotechnical properties of the soils at all four study locations have been severely hampered due to contamination induced by open dumping of waste.

Laboratory testing of a densified municipal solid waste in Beijing

Municipal solid waste （MSW） and its disposal are gaining significant importance in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. However, conventional research is primarily focused on fresh MSW or MSW that is compacted under its own weight in the landfill. In this work, a series of tests to study the properties of a densified MSW after ground treatment were presented. The tests involved oedometer test, simple shear test, triaxial shear test, and permeability test, which were conducted to investigate the compressibility, shear strength, creep behavior and permeability of the MSW. The results show that the compressibility modulus of the MSW increases as the dry density increases. However, the influence of density on modulus decreases once the density reaches a certain value. Like most soils, the stress-strain curve of the densified MSW can be approximated by a hyperbola in the triaxial shear test. Fibrous components provide additional cohesion for MSW, but have a relatively smaller effect on friction angle. Permeability is also found to be closely related to the dry density of the MSW, i.e., MSW with a higher dry density has a smaller permeability. The permeability coefficient may be less than 10 7 cm/s if the density is high enough.

Thermodynamic Analysis of the Gasification of Municipal Solid Waste

This work aims to understand the gasification performance of municipal solid waste （MSW） by means of thermodynamic analysis. Thermodynamic analysis is based on the assumption that the gasification reactions take place at the thermodynamic equilibrium condition, without regard to the reactor and process characteristics. First, model components of MSW including food, green wastes, paper, textiles, rubber, chlorine-free plastic, and polyvinyl chloride were chosen as the feedstock of a steam gasification process, with the steam temperature ranging from 973 K to 2273 K and the steam-to-MSW ratio （STMR） ranging from 1 to 5. It was found that the effect of the STMR on the gasification performance was almost the same as that of the steam temperature. All the differences among the seven types of MSW were caused by the variation of their compositions. Next, the gasification of actual MSW was analyzed using this thermodynamic equilibrium model. It was possible to count the inorganic components of actual MSW as silicon dioxide or aluminum oxide for the purpose of simplification, due to the fact that the inorganic components mainly affected the reactor temperature. A detailed comparison was made of the composition of the gaseous products obtained using steam, hydrogen, and air gasifying agents to provide basic knowledge regarding the appropriate choice of gasifying agent in MSW treatment upon demand.

CH4 emission and recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in China

Methane (CH 4) is an important greenhouse gas and a major environmental pollutant, second only to carbon dioxide (CO 2) in its contribution to potential global warming. In many cases, methane emission from landfills otherwise emitted to the atmosphere can be removed and utilized, or significantly reduced in quantity by using cost effective management methods. The gas can also be used as a residential, commercial, or industrial fuel. Therefore, emission reduction strategies have the potential to become low cost, or even profitable. The annual growth rate of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) output in China is 6.24%, with the highest levels found in South China, Southwest China and East China. Cities and towns are developing quickly in these regions. MSW output was only 76.36 Mt in 1991 and increased to 109.82 Mt in 1997, registering an average increase of 43.8%. In China, methane emission from landfills also increased from 5.88 Mt in 1991 to 8.46 Mt in 1997; so the recovery of methane from landfills is a profitable project.

Modeling Municipal Solid Waste Management in Africa: Case Study of Matadi, the Democratic Republic of Congo

The purpose of this article is to present the key elements for best performance and profitability of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management in a low-income city. The research provides an overview of methods and models for integrated planning of a two-phase program: MSW collection and transportation, and MSW treatment. We present the case study of Matadi (the Democratic Republic of Congo) that has a low level of the MSW management compared to other African cities. We develop a spreadsheet model for collection and transportation of MSW which is relevant for low-income cities and enables determining the waste collection fee. A CDM decay model is used to predict the GHG emissions in disposal site. The MSW treatment plant in case of Matadi is evaluated. For the anaerobic digestion technology selected as appropriate for this plant, the key factors that ensure profitability of the plant are as follows: tipping fee from the municipality (19% of total revenue), amount of carbon credits which can sum up to 16% of the total revenue, expansion of waste collection range from 25 to 50 km. The methods of this study can be used for solving waste problem in other low-income cities where the budget for municipal services is scanty, particularly when starting from a very low level of MSW management.

Impact of Municipal Solid Waste Disposal on Compaction Characteristics and Strength of Red Soil

The disposal of MSW （municipal solid waste）, in most of Indian cities, is to dump on nearby low laying lands. This investigation aims to characterize MSW and assess compaction characteristics and strength properties of contaminated soils at dumping sites in two cities Chickballapur and Kolar of Karnataka, India. Representative solid wastes from selected wards of the city were collected and analyzed. Substantial release of leachate form the dump yards occurred during past few years and the soil at the dump site experience extensive contamination. The test results of contaminated and uncontaminated soil show increase in optimum moisture content and decrease in maximum dry density. The unconfined compressive strength decreased considerably for soil samples obtained at 0.0 m, 0.5 m and 1.0 m depths below waste dump. At depths greater than 1.5 m, compaction characteristics and unconfined compressive strength closely match with the uncontaminated soil. Little variation in pH value, which makes soil slightly alkaline, was observed. From the study, it is inferred that, this investigation is very significant, as the foundation normally at these depths may be affected by this contamination.

Review of harmless treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

Incineration is widely adopted in municipal solid waste management,which produces large amounts of municipal solid waste incineration(MSWI)fly ash.The harmless treatment of MSWI fly ash requires the appropriate disposal of heavy metals and dioxins that are enriched in fly ash.This review summarizes recently developed harmless disposal methods for MSWI fly ash including solidification/stabilization,thermal treatment,and separation/extraction.In addition,we discuss heavy metal and dioxin fixation,and the removal capacity of fly ash via solidification/stabilization(including cement solidification,chemical stabilization,hydrothermal processes,and mechano-chemical methods),thermal treatment(including sintering,fuel-burning,or electric melting/vitrification),and separation/extraction(including water-washing,chemical reagent leaching,biological leaching,electrodialysis separation,chemical reagent extraction,and nanomaterials extraction).The advantages and disadvantages of different harmless treatment methods are compared and future research prospects and suggestions are summarized.This review provides general guidelines for the harmless treatment of MSWI fly ash in the future.

Variation of Coenzyme F_(420) Activity and Methane Yield in Landfill Simulation of Organic Waste

A simulated landfill anaerobic bioreactor was used to characterize the anaerobic biodegradation and biogas generation of organic waste which was mainly composed of residuals of vegetables and foods. We investigated the dynamics of the coenzyme F420 activity and determined correlations between biogas yields, methane yields, methane concentration and coenzyme F420 activity. The experiment was carded out under different conditions from control without any treatment, addition of Fe^3＋, microorganism inoculation to a combination of Fe3＋ addition and inoculation at a temperature of 36±2℃. The experiment was lasted 120 d and coenzyme F420 activity was analyzed using ultraviolet spectrophotornetry. Experimental results indicated that activity of the coenzyme F420 treated by Fe and microorganism inoculation increased substantially. The waste treated by inoculation had the greatest increase. When the waste was treated by Fe^3＋, inoculation and the combination of Fe^3＋ and inoculation, biogas yields increased by 46.9%, 132.6% and 153.1%, respectively; while the methane yields increased 4, 97 and 98 times. Methane concentration varied between 0 and 6% in the control reactor, from 0 to 14% for waste treated by the addition of Fe^3＋, from 0 to 59% for waste treated by inoculation and from 0 to 63% for waste treated by Fe^3＋ addition and inoculation. Correlations between coenzyme F420 activity and biogas production, methane production and methane concentration proved to be positively significant （p〈0.05）, except for the control. Consequently, coenzyme F420 activity could be used as an index for monitoring the activity of methanogens during anaerobic biodegradation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.

基于Aspen Plus的MSW气化熔融工艺全流程模拟研究

城市固体废物(MSW)气化熔融工艺能够减少二噁英的生成和熔融固化重金属,是一种清洁高效的固体废物处理方式。已有研究多针对MSW的热解特性以及污染物的生成与排放,而对气化熔融工艺系统模块之间的影响和各反应器间物质流、能量流的联动变化过程研究不足。利用Aspen Plus模拟平台,基于吉布斯自由能最小化原理,对MSW气化熔融工艺进行了全流程模拟研究,分析了垃圾干燥温度、垃圾含水率、气化温度、气化介质以及灰熔点对工艺流程节点参数、物质流和能量流的影响,并提出了优化的工艺流程和运行参数。结果表明:在垃圾热解模拟时,垃圾含水率为9%,通过烟气循环能达到能量自给;在相同条件下,以水蒸气作为气化介质的气化效率最高,且在气化温度为850℃,水蒸气当量比为50%时,达到最佳工艺效果;当气化后产生的焦炭在熔融炉内燃烧刚满足灰熔点温度时,灰熔点的升高使气化剂比例、气化气有效气体摩尔流量和碳转化率不断降低。不同工况下的物质流、能量流的变化对实际工程具有指导意义。

Recycling combustibles from aged municipal solid wastes(MSW)to improve fresh MSW incineration in Shanghai:Investigation of necessity and feasibility

Aged municipal solid wastes(MSW)excavated from landfills and dumpsites were characterized to analyze their fraction composition,moisture content,and lower heat value(LHV).The necessity and feasibility of recycling combustibles from aged MSW to improve the incineration of fresh MSW were investigated.The results showed that combustibles in aged MSW were easily separated from other components and than LHV of the separated combustibles are higher than 11000 kJ/kg.The fresh MSW are of high moisture contents with average LHV below 6500 kJ/kg,making their stable combustion difficult to maintain in MSW incinerators.For both fresh MSW and aged MSW,plastics are the main contributor to their LHV.To improve incineration of fresh MSW that are characterized with low LHV,combustibles separated from aged MSW were made into refuse derived fuel(RDF)pellets and were then added to fresh MSW by 2%wt.–5%wt.LHV variation and air supply resistance change of the MSW layer on the incinerator grate caused by the addition of RDF was checked,and no significant changes were found.No obvious difference was observed for the‘burn-out time’between RDF pellets and fresh MSW either.RDF made from aged MSW combustibles is found to be a promising auxiliary fuel to improve the incineration of fresh MSW,and aged MSW from old landfill cells and dumpsites can be finally disposed of jointly with fresh MSW by recycling combustible from the former to be coincinerated with the latter in the incineration plants.

Model for Evaluating the Ecological Health of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment System

Ecological municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment systems are complex systems engineering concerning with multiple objectives and hierarchical levels. By combining an extension method with fuzzy logic theory, this paper investigated key technologies required by the comprehensive evaluation of ecological health. The method includes the construction of an evaluation system, quantification of evaluation indices, development of a matter-element model, development of an extension evaluation method, and assignment of a blended weight that combines subjectively and objectively estimated weights. This approach was used to develop a comprehensive model for evaluating the ecological health of an ecological treatment system for MSW. The model was then applied to a case study, and the results demonstrated that the model is a reasonable and effective.

A Life Cycle Comparison of Remote, Deployed Expeditionary Waste Management Scenarios

The current barrier to acquisition and utilization of viable waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies at remote or deployed expeditionary sites requires high capital and operation & maintenance costs. The impacts to environment and human health of differing expeditionary waste management strategies were compared using the Life Cycle Assessment software SimaPro 8.0. Emissions of individual waste management scenarios were compiled from peer-reviewed literature, converted to values compatible with SimaPro’s waste scenario inputs, and the calculated impacts compared using SimaPro’s pre-loaded methodologies. These calculated impacts and the economic impacts confirm that open-air burning of waste is not only dangerous to humans and the environment, but is also not cost-effective. Considering the economic effects and the mitigated human and environmental health impacts, WTE technologies may be a viable waste management strategy for the future.