Efficient waste management, including proper utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW), is imperative for a sustainable future. Among several management options, pyrolysis and combustion of MSW has regained interest because of improved combustion techniques. This work aims to investigate the thermal conversion and combustion characteristics of refuse derived solid fuel (RDF) samples and its individual compounds collected from Nur-Sultan’s MSW landfills. The waste-derived solid RDF samples originally consist of textile, mixed paper, and mixed plastic. In particular, the samples, including RDF and its three constituent components, were analyzed in the temperature range of 25 to 900 °C, at three different heating rates, by thermogravimetric method. The gross calorific value for RDF derived from Nur-Sultan’s MSW was determined to be 23.4 MJ/kg. The weight loss rates of the samples, differential thermogravimetry (DTG), and kinetic analysis were compared between individual RDF components and for the mixed RDF. Combustion kinetics models were calculated using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), and Friedman methods. The results revealed that first decomposition of RDF samples was observed at the range of 180–370 °C. Moreover, the activation energy for conversion of RDF was observed to be the highest among the constituent components and gradually decreased from 370 to 140 kJ/kmol.
The energy transition is driving governments and industries to adopt various measures to reduce their climate impacts while maintaining the stability of their economy. Hydrogen technologies are one of the central topics in the energy transition. Different nations have different stances on it. Some governments see hydrogen as a decarbonization tool or part of their energy security strategy, while some others see it as a potential export commodity. While identifying priorities for the future, Kazakhstan should clearly define the role of hydrogen in the country’s long-term energy and decarbonization strategy. This work presents the first country-scale assessment of hydrogen technologies in Kazakhstan by focusing on policy, technology and economy aspects. A preliminary analysis has shown that Kazakhstan should approach hydrogen mainly as a part of its long-term decarbonization strategy. While coping with the financial risks of launching a hydrogen economy, the country can benefit from the export potential of low-carbon hydrogen in the near term. The export potential of low-carbon hydrogen in Kazakhstan is justified by its proximity to the largest hydrogen markets, huge resource base, and potentially low cost of production (in the case of blue hydrogen). Technology options for hydrogen transportation and storage for Kazakhstan are discussed in our work. The paper also identifies target hydrogen utilization areas in emission sectors regulated by Kazakhstan’s Emissions Trading System.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.