Recycle of Plastic Bag Wastes with Organic Wastes to Energy for RDF Productions

Abstract

This paper studies the utilization potential of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) approach to recover the discarded plastics from Hatyai solid waste disposal site in Songkhla province, Thailand. The excavated plastic bag wastes from the closure landfill of Hatyai, unused plastic bag wastes and waste residues are the raw materials for RDF productions. The raw materials are characterized for proximate analysis and ultimate analysis. The RDF5 (Densified RDF) with different raw materials are produced and characterized in this study. All raw materials have low moisture content, high volatile solids, low ash content and low fixed carbon. Thus, these raw materials are suitable for RDF productions. Due to low sulfur content, the combustion of these RDFs has no risk for the global warming and acid rain cause. The various RDFs in this study include a plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-RDF (PP-RDF), an unused plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-RDF (UPP-RDF), a plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-cassava peels-RDF (PPCRDF) and a plastic bag wastes-palm leaves-rubber wastes-RDF (PPRRDF). The various RDFs are provided the good physical and chemical properties. The higher heating value (HHV) of PP-RDF, UPP-RDF, PPCRDF and PPR-RDF is 5,725, 5,674, 5,548 and 5,872 kcal/kg, respectively. The HHV of various RDFs is higher than the HHV criterion for RDF in the briquette form. Therefore, the plastic-wastes RDF has the potential for energy as solid fuels for kiln. According to this study, the plastic-bagwastes RDF in the briquette form is suitable for renewable energy.

Characteristics of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) at The Waste Processing Facility (WPF) of The Faculty of Engineering, Untirta

“…The results of the proximate, bulk density, and compressive strength tests of RDF are presented in Table 2, indicating that the produced RDF complies with the SNI standards for Solid Jump Fuel and falls into class 2, with a calorific value of ≥3582.688 cal/g (SNI 8966:2021 about BBJP). The resulting RDF has a bulk density value ranging from 0.631 to 0.730 g/cm 3 , which corresponds to the bulk density value of RDF briquettes, ranging from 0.57 to 0.65 g/cm 3 , indicating good density (Rithy et al, 2017). The addition of starch adhesive provides strong durability to the RDF, with values ranging from 6.69 to 13.04 kg/cm 2 , which is higher than the compressive strength values of RDF composed of organic waste and inorganic waste in the study conducted by Rithy et al (2017), which ranged from 2.01 to 2.32 kg/cm 2 .…”

“…The resulting RDF has a bulk density value ranging from 0.631 to 0.730 g/cm 3 , which corresponds to the bulk density value of RDF briquettes, ranging from 0.57 to 0.65 g/cm 3 , indicating good density (Rithy et al, 2017). The addition of starch adhesive provides strong durability to the RDF, with values ranging from 6.69 to 13.04 kg/cm 2 , which is higher than the compressive strength values of RDF composed of organic waste and inorganic waste in the study conducted by Rithy et al (2017), which ranged from 2.01 to 2.32 kg/cm 2 . The durability and density of RDF briquettes influence the combustion process, leading to increased combustion length and temperature.…”

“…The composition of mixed materials in RDF can influence the calorific value of the RDF produced (Garcia et al, 2021) as well as the presence of aldehyde compounds in the plastic (MarEdo et al, 2016). For instance, RDF with a composition of 40% organic waste and 60% inorganic waste has a calorific value of 5674 cal/g (Rithy et al, 2017). The quality and characteristics of RDF are dependent on the type of waste and the waste characterization process.…”

“…The greater the composition of inorganic waste (multilayer LDPE plastic packaging), the higher the calorific value produced. This is because packaging waste has a calorific value of 6,687-8,837 cal/g, while leaf waste has a calorific value of 3,753.22 cal/g (Rithy et al, 2017). Therefore, the addition of plastic waste can increase the calorific value of RDF.…”