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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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80 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Solid waste gasification: comparison of single- and multi-staged reactors

Interest in converting waste into renewable energy has increased recently due to concerns about sustainability and climate change. This solid waste is mainly derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), biomass residue, plastic waste, and their mixtures. Gasification is one commonly applied technology that can convert solid waste into usable gases, including H2, CO, CH4, and CO2. Single- and multi-staged reactors have been utilized for solid waste gasification. Comparison in reactor dimensions, operating factors (e.g., gasification agent, temperature, and feed composition), performance (e.g., syngas yield and selectivity), advantages, and disadvantages are discussed and summarized. Additionally, discussion will include economic and advanced catalysts which have been developed for use in solid waste gasification. The multi-staged reactor can not only be applied for gasification, but also for pyrolysis and torrefaction.

Zhao, Xianhui↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mechanical and biochemical recovery of landfill waste in an underserved community

Historically in the United States, waste collected for recycling has been sold and shipped to processors in China. In 2013 and 2018, China introduced the Green Fence and National Sword policies which restricts the import of contaminated materials and banned the import of many recyclables. The cost of recycling in the United States has increased following these policy changes, which has led to many communities reducing their recycling programs or halting them altogether. Rural and underserved communities that don’t have resources to afford sophisticated recycling programs have been heavily impacted. Previous work at INL demonstrated that MSW is a potentially viable feedstock for both biochemical and thermochemical conversion. The goal of this project is to assess preprocessing tools that can produce consistent feedstocks that meet conversion specifications, remove problematic contaminants, and reduce the amount of waste that is landfilled. Municipal solid waste was collected from an underserved community in southeast Idaho, contaminants were characterized, and mechanically separated into two discrete fractions. The unit operations identified during mechanical separation trials will be mobilized to on-site with a goal of 50% recovery of paper and plastic waste.

09 - BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Davis et al. (2025) MDPI Hydrogen Supplement

The raw data and figures used in Davis et al. (2025), "A Comparative Analysis of Waste-as-a-Feedstock Accounting Methods in Life Cycle Assessments," published in MDPI Hydrogen journal.

biogenic carbon↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bypassing Energy Barriers in Fiber-Polymer Torrefaction

The amount of waste generation has been increasing with a significant amount being landfilled. These non-recyclable wastes contain large number of fiber and plastic wastes which can be treated with thermal processes to turn them into energy sources since they have high calorific values, are abundant and usually tipping fees are paid to handle them. This paper studied the torrefaction of non-recyclable paper (fiber) wastes, mixed plastic wastes (MPW) and their blends at different ratios in the temperature range of 250–400°C through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The solid residues after the experiments were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Significant synergy between fiber and MPW were observed at the range 250–300°C, showing both increase in the reaction rate as well as the overall mass loss. At 250°C, the maximum mass loss rate was more than two times higher and the mass loss at the end of the experiments were also much higher compared to the expected results. In addition, synergy was weakened with an increase of temperature, disappearing at 400°C. The existence of such interactions between fiber and plastic wastes indicates that the natural energy barriers during the individual torrefaction in paper waste or plastic waste could be bypassed, and the torrefaction of fiber and plastic blend can be achieved at lower temperatures and/or shorter residence times. The MPW and fiber wastes were also compounded by extrusion (to produce pellets) at 220°C with different blend ratios. The fiber-MPW pellets from extrusion were characterized by IR spectroscopy, rheology, thermal analysis and flexural properties and showed significant chemical changes from the non-extruded blends at the same ratios. From IR characterization, it was found that there was significant increase in hydroxyl (OH) group on account of the carbonyl (C = O) and etheric (C-O-C) groups. The interaction between paper and MPW can be attributed to the plastic polymers acting as a hydrogen donor during the reactive extrusion process. Synergistic effects were also found from mechanical and rheological properties.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Paper and Plastics in Landfills: The Missed Opportunity

Landfilling paper and plastic waste represents missed opportunities for resource and energy recovery and significant loses in market value and disposal costs. More paper and plastics are landfilled than previously thought which highlights opportunities for improvement.

disposal cost↗
DOE OSTI2026

Municipal Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) Programs: Economic Benefits, Limitations, and Best Practices

Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT), also known as unit pricing or variable rate pricing, is a solid waste management system where customers pay for waste collection based on the volume or weight of waste they discard. By linking costs directly to waste generation, PAYT encourages customers to reduce waste through recycling, composting, and source reduction. This approach could support key waste management goals such as waste reduction, increased recycling, and controlling disposal costs. PAYT programs are flexible and can be customized to community needs. When implemented effectively, PAYT may also generate dedicated funding for waste services, enhancing program sustainability and stability.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗