Abstract

In sparsely populated rural areas, recycling of household waste might not always be the most environmentally advantageous solution due to the total amount of transport involved. In this study, an alternative approach to recycling has been tested using efficient small-scale biofuel boilers for co-combustion of biofuel and high-energy waste. The dry combustible fraction of source-sorted household waste was mixed with the energy crop reed canary-grass (Phalaris Arundinacea L.), and combusted in both a 5-kW pilot scale reactor and a biofuel boiler with 140-180 kW output capacity, in the form of pellets and briquettes, respectively. The chlorine content of the waste fraction was 0.2%, most of which originated from plastics. The HCl emissions exceeded levels stipulated in new EU-directives, but levels of equal magnitude were also generated from combustion of the pure biofuel. Addition of waste to the biofuel did not give any apparent increase in emissions of organic compounds. Dioxin levels were close to stipulated limits. With further refinement of combustion equipment, small-scale co-combustion systems have the potential to comply with emission regulations. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Published in

Waste Management
2005, Volume: 25, number: 3, pages: 311-321
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Hedman, Björn

  • Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Burvall, Jan

  • Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nilsson, Calle

  • Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Renewable Bioenergy Research
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2004.07.018

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/5632