Characteristics And Kinetics Of Pyrolysis Of Municipal Solid Waste

Pyrolysis is one of the very popular techniques for the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW), while most studies on the MSW pyrolysis only focuses on either the single-component MSW or those composed of a small number of components. In the present study, the mixed wastes from a waste treatment plant were used as the experimental material. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the pyrolysis process were carried out, and the pyrolysis process were divided into three phases: water evaporation; endothermic depolymerization and chain scission; and the bond formation and cross-linking polycondensation yielding macromolecular substances. Then, the optimum pyrolysis conditions were obtained and the MSW pyrolysis kinetics among 300 degrees C and 800 degrees C were analyzed, providing a theoretical basis for following studies. The results showed that the activation energy varies significantly as the conversion rate increases with an average activation energy of 122.53 kJ center dot mol(-1). The tar productions have a relatively simple composition containing only about 36 species. The pyrolysis tar produced by MSW is composed of aromatic hydrocarbons containing 4 rings and the size of the cyclic compounds decreases with increase in temperature. Finally, the newly pyrolysis mechanism of MSW is proposed and summarized in the paper.