Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) is a large Canadian chemical company which manufactures a range of heavy industrial chemicals. A significant volume of these products are based on natural gas feedstock. About six years ago; three circumstances evolved which prompted the Company to examine the potential of municipal refuse as a source of synthesis gas for chemicals manufacture. The events were, 1) Threatened curtailment of natural gas supply, 2) Requirement for additional ammonia capacity, 3) Acquisition of a waste disposal company.An initial economic study of the conversion of municipal waste to synthesis gas provided significant justification to proceed with a demonstration plant. The program was designed to demonstrate two new processes; 1) preparation of a solid fuel (RDF) from mixed municipal refuse 2) conversion of this fuel to a lew calorific value gas. A demonstration plant was constructed in 1976. Evaluation of the first module, RDF preparation, was satisfactorily concluded in 1978. The second step, gasification of the RDF, will be completed this year. In late 1978, the gasification program was expanded to include other feedstocks primarily forest biomass and the use of oxygen. This latter program has received partial government support. Experiments are underway also to examine the gas processing steps subsequent to gasification i.e. high temperature gas cleaning and reforming.
Refuse as a Substitute FeedstockMunicipal refuse is a highly heterogeneous mixture of materials of which more than half are organic. Refuse contains significant amounts of water and has a caiparatively lew heating value. Garbage has, however, one redeeming featureit is cheap. After separation of metals and glass, the combustible fraction can be thermally decomposed into three components; a high ash content char, a mixed condensible phase comprising water and liquid organics and a gas containing primarily 1 Current address: BBC Engi neeri ng, 65 Pri ngl e Avenue, Markham, Ontari o, Canada L-P 2P5 0-8412-0565-5/80/47-130-351$05.00/0
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