Elemental Compositions of Wood Plastic Pellets Made from Sawdust and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Waste

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the production and properties of wood plastic pellets (WPP) made from rubberwood sawdust and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). WPP samples were tested for chemical and physical properties and compared to standard wood pellets. The results showed that when using RDF, the elemental compositions of WPP can affect the content of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As. In addition, RDF samples had a higher heating value of 21.19–22.09 MJ/kg. The physical properties of the samples revealed that they had a density of 1175–1286 kg/m3, a mechanical durability of 98%, and a moisture content of 5.38–11.27%. According to the study’s findings, these manufactured mixed pellets have the potential to be beneficial for alternative sustainable green energy as fuels. Moreover, using RDF, which comes from MSW, could help in global warming mitigation.