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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Life Cycle Analysis and Life Cycle Costing for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management and Materials Redeployment to Support ARPA-E’s Potential Program on Waste to Energy and Materials

Municipal solid waste infrastructure in the United States contains complex supply chains to transport, sort, and sequester waste. This project developed models to estimate the environmental and economic costs of waste infrastructure in the U.S. using data from several municipalities. Life cycle costing (LCC) models were developed for waste management relevant supply chain steps, including waste collection, sorting, landfilling, waste-to-energy, ash processing, and recycling. A waste-to-materials and energy (WTM&E) life cycle analysis (LCA) and LCC dashboard was developed in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and an LCC tool was developed for additional analysis.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Organic Waste Resource Assessment for the Detroit Region

This study summarizes major sources of organic wastes in the Detroit region to (1) characterize target feedstock magnitudes and distribution in support of techno-economic analysis (TEA), and (2) guide the design of blended feedstock conversion experiments using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Feedstocks considered in this review include municipal wastewater sludge solids (untreated) and scum; bulk municipal solid waste (MSW); the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OF-MSW); residential food waste, non-residential food waste including institutional, industrial, and commercial (IIC) sources; confined animal manures (i.e., lactating dairy, feedlot beef, and market swine); waste fats, oils and greases (FOG); agricultural residues; forest residues. The scope of the investigation was limited to existing modeled or publicly available reporting datasets. Bulk MSW data were only collected for context and to generate estimates of OF-MSW by waste type and should not be included in total organic waste estimates. Because the TEA analysis boundary was not defined prior to conducting the resource assessment, the data are summarized within six spatial contexts (boundaries), including (1) city of Detroit (census); (2) Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) service area; “Tri-county” urban area (census); “Metro” Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (census); Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (census); and the Michigan Councils of Government (COG) Region-1. All of the spatial contexts are entirely within the State of Michigan, and some overlap one another. A broader context could be developed to include data from surrounding states or Canada.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

MSW Variability Mapping and Conversion to Biofuel

MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) is a form of biomass which consists of categorized components of waste/trash. The general categories are paper, yard trash, construction & debris, appliances, tires, glass, metals, aluminum & steel cans, plastics, organics, inorganics, and HHW (Household Hazardous Waste). This project focuses on the factors within a region or population that contribute to variability in the composition of MSW and in turn MSW’s convertibility to biofuel. A list of contributors was determined (Social Vulnerability Index, Access to Public Transportation, Racial Distribution, GDP, Personal Income) and then JMP was used to perform a Multivariate analysis to determine correlations and a Partial Least-Squares regression to determine Variable Importance Plots for each MSW category. In addition to data analysis, the convertibility of MSW to biofuel was studied via microwave pyrolysis system in order to separate and characterize the various gaseous and bio-oil products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mitigating municipal solid waste fouling in biofuel conversion via screw surface modifications

Here, municipal solid waste (MSW)'s 40–60 % carbon content makes it a feedstock for biofuel production via pyrolysis. One challenge in the conversion process is MSW fouling due to thermal decomposition. The accumulated deposit on the injection screw often leads to plugging and constriction. This study examined the morphology and composition of the MSW fouling deposit and conducted a thermal simulation to understand the temperature gradience of the injection screw. Surface modifications including smoothening and anti-adhesion coating were proposed for the injection screw to address the deposit problem. For evaluating the candidate mitigations, a bench-scale fouling test was developed with the gas environment, temperature, and sliding speed relevant to the contact interface between the MSW particles and the screw. Results suggested that a smoother screw surface could reduce the grip and a non-metallic coating with a lower surface energy could decrease adhesion, consequently leading to less fouling. Specifically, reducing the roughness from 2 to 0.6 and then to 0.2 μm proportionally decreased the amount of deposit, and the diamond-like-carbon, CrN, and NiCr–CrC composite coatings effectively hindered the fouling process. This study provides fundamental insights into the MSW fouling and proof-of-concept of potential mitigations through the screw surface modification.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid characterization of MSW and RDF feedstocks for waste-to-energy process using LIBS and ML techniques

The heterogeneity in the composition of municipal solid wastes (MSW) poses significant challenges in the production of biofuel and bioproducts. This research aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of waste analysis and characterization by introducing a fast characterization approach for MSW-derived refuse-derived fuels (RDF) by combining Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with advanced machine learning (ML) techniques. The approach combines data pre-processing of LIBS spectra of RDF, and the development of ML models trained on domain and theory-based spectral features for predicting process parameters. These models are adept at predicting key process parameters like High Heating Value (HHV), carbon content, and volatile matter. This approach can achieve an average RRMSE of 2.13% and R 2 of 0.98 or higher for all considered parameters on testing data. This work demonstrates significant potential for improving waste sorting, processing efficiency, and environmental compliance over traditional labor- and time-intensive laboratory waste analysis and characterization.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hydrothermal liquefaction for biomass

Catalyst composition and parameters for catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass to bio-oil fuels target municipal solid waste (MSW) rather than lignin rich plant waste typically sought for bio-oil production. An HTL (Hydrothermal Liquefaction) reactor generates bio-fuel from municipal solid waste (MSW), including receiving, in the HTL reactor, non-lignin based waste from a municipal processing stream, and adding a solvent for extracting sugars from green waste components of the municipal processing stream. The reactor extracts a liquid from the received waste, and converts water soluble products in the liquid into oil soluble products via C—C (carbon-to-carbon) coupling reactions. A catalyst added to the resulting aqueous stream recovers a beneficial oil product, and is optimized by tuning acid and base sites on the solid catalyst.

Timko, Michael T.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Decontamination of MSW Improves Conversion Efficiency

Municipal solid waste (MSW) offers a significant opportunity for energy conversion pathways. Paper and plastic waste can be converted and upgraded to fuels through low- and high-temperature conversion, respectively. The objective of this study is to develop MSW paper and plastic decontamination methods to increase conversion efficiencies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

W-SMART Phase-I Pathway Analysis: Case Study - City of Boston, MA

The purpose of this study is to synthesize stakeholder and research learnings to date by exercising PNNL’s Waste - Sustainability Monitoring of Alternative Reuse Options over Time (W-SMART) sustainability protocol for the Greater Boston region. This report serves as a foundation for future discussion and project work to characterize the costs, risks, impacts, tradeoffs, and highest uses for major waste streams. This analysis differs from previous work by 1) incorporating results of a newly completed detailed resource assessment for the Greater Boston area; (2) providing a head-to-head pathway comparison without any policy supports (e.g., carbon or energy credits); and (3) focusing on locally relevant critical waste streams and reuse strategies, by assessing the cost-effectiveness of two complimentary pathways, including (a) expanded incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) at existing treatment sites to produce baseload electricity, and (b) the conversion of blended municipal wastewater solids (i.e., sludge) and non-residential food waste to produce liquid transportation biofuels at a proposed hydrothermal liquefaction facility in Quincy, MA. The performance of each pathway is also compared to assumed business-as-usual waste management practices as a baseline.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fluidized Bed Gasification For Conversion of Biomass and Waste Materials to Renewable Hydrogen

This project was undertaken in order to study the potential for hydrogen production, at low cost, from mixtures of biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW). This approach allows for the production of hydrogen with a very low fossil carbon burden, while taking advantage of tipping fees (associated with MSW) to improved process economics. The team sourced three primary feedstocks (wood, MSW, and waste plastics) and characterized them comprehensively using established techniques with a long track record in the field of gasification. All three primary feedstocks were highly reactive and lost most of their mass during initial devolatilization. The production of tars, including heavy tars, was quite high, and was most problematic in the case of the MSW and Waste Plastics feedstocks. Little practical difference was identified between the MSW and Waste Plastics materials, and the addition of bed-forming materials (dolomite and brown alumina) to the feedstocks was found to reduce production of tars during devolatilization under thermogravimetric analysis and/or Fischer Assay conditions. A series of four tests in a lab-scale bubbling-fluidized-bed gasifier, at 50 psig of pressure and about 825 C, confirmed these findings. Pellet feedstocks, broken into fragments, were used for these tests, and pellets comprised of 50% MSW and 50% biomass were found to be the best option in terms of fossil carbon burden, economic potential, and gasification characteristics. Tests were then undertaken in a pilot-scale gasifier facility based on the GTI U-Gas fluidized-bed gasification technology. The feedstock handling train of the 20 TPD U-Gas pilot-scale gasifier located in Des Plaines, IL, was operated under simulated gasification conditions, and the 50/50 pellets were found to be very robust and unproblematic. An improved design for the forward end of the feedstock injection screw of the gasifier was developed and installed. The design approach was based on improved passive cooling of the front-most shroud at the end of the screw, since this approach was found in comprehensive modeling studies to be more than sufficient to accomplish the project objectives associated with this phase of the work, while also avoiding thermal gradients that could have caused heat-stress-induced damage to the refractory around the feedstock inlet if an active cooling approach had been applied. Careful technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of two possible 1000 TPD facilities was carried out. The TEA of conversion of MSW with corn stover in one case, and MSW with woody feedstock in the other case, showed that both had the potential to provide hydrogen at about $1/kg (minimum selling price, 2018 dollar basis). Of the two TEA cases, the one that was based on the conversion of wood in the southeastern USA was found to have slightly better economic potential. The other TEA case was based on a real location in Nebraska and called for corn stover feedstock conversion along with MSW. An underserved communities outreach program plan was developed in cooperation with personnel from the Nebraska Public Power District.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Waste-to-Energy Pipeline through Consolidated Fermentation–Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) System

The rise in population, urbanization, and industrial developments have led to a substantial increase in waste generation and energy demand, posing significant challenges for waste management as well as energy conservation and production. Bioenergy conversions have been merged as advanced, sustainable, and integrated solutions for these issues, encompassing energy generation and waste upcycling of different types of organic waste. Municipal solid waste (MSW) and agricultural residues (AR) are two main resources for bioenergy conversions. Bioenergy production involves feedstock deconstruction and the conversion of platform chemicals to energy products. This review provides a detailed overview of waste sources, biofuel, and bioelectricity production from fermentation and microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, and their economic and environmental perspectives. Fermentation plays a critical role in liquid biofuel production, while MFCs demonstrate promising potential for simultaneous production of electricity and hydrogen. Fermentation and MFCs hold a significant potential to be integrated into a single pipeline, enabling the conversion of organic matter, including a variety of waste material and effluent, into diverse forms of bioenergy via microbial cultures under mild conditions. Furthermore, MFCs are deemed a promising technology for pollutant remediation, reducing COD levels while producing bioenergy. Importantly, the consolidated fermentation–MFC system is projected to produce approximately 7.17 trillion L of bioethanol and 6.12 × 10 4 MW/m 2 of bioelectricity from MSW and AR annually, contributing over USD 465 billion to the global energy market. Such an integrated system has the potential to initiate a circular economy, foster waste reduction, and improve waste management practices. This advancement could play a crucial role in promoting sustainability across the environmental and energy sectors.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced biorefinery feedstock from non-recyclable municipal solid waste by mechanical preprocessing

Because of accelerated urbanization and the development of a global economy, a large quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been collected and disposed of by the municipalities. Due to this drastic increase in the disposal of MSW, the need for its management is a must to preserve the environment. Currently, approximately 50% of the total MSW generated in the United States has been utilized through various recycling, combustion, and composting technologies, which means the remaining 50% is sent to landfill; this is often known as non-recyclable MSW (nMSW). As this nMSW is physically and chemically heterogenous and contains very high amounts of inorganic material, processing is required prior to using it as a biorefinery feedstock. Thus, this study focused on how mechanical preprocessing advanced the physical and chemical properties of nMSW. The physical and chemical properties were investigated in terms of particle size distribution, bulk density, ultimate and proximate analysis, and the higher heating value (HHV). The combustion properties were examined in terms of ignition temperature, peak heat release rate, and combustion efficiency. Results showed that the variability of physical and chemical properties of nMSW can be reduced by mechanical preprocessing. For example, the variability of the bulk density of the as-received nMSW was approximately 17.3% while it reduced to 5.8% when the sample size was reduced to 2 mm. Similarly, the variability of ash and HHV reduced from 49.2% to 11.0% and 13.4%–4.2%, respectively. Combustion thermograms showed that the size reduction positively improved the combustion properties. For example, 2 mm of spec sample started to ignite approximately 4 times earlier and took 6.5 folds less time to reach the peak heating rate compared to as-received nMSW. Overall, the mechanical preprocessing reduced the variability of physical and chemical properties in addition to the improvement of combustion behavior of the nMSW which is one step forward toward the biorefinery feedstock.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Challenges and Opportunities Associated with the Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the important challenges in today’s world. A continuous surge in population, increasing living standards, and rapid urbanization are generating an enormous quantity of MSW. Improper management of this MSW often leads to the release of greenhouse gases, emission of particulate matters, and formation of dioxins, which all ultimately contributes to climate change. Recycling these wastes via landfills with gas recovery and/or energy and material production via thermal and chemical conversions could be viable options to manage these challenges. Recycling of MSW is difficult because it is very heterogeneous in nature. The heterogeneity of MSW varies significantly from country to country and from one municipality to another. Such variation depends mainly on the waste management regulations and industrial structure of each region. The quantity and the quality of MSW are critical for determination of the handling and management. This presentation will discuss the statistics (e.g., source, quantity, quality, etc.) of MSW following by the current state-of-the-art technologies for handling those wastes. The key challenges handling those wastes and possible improvements of the handling processes will be discussed further. Finally, the potential opportunities for MSW, especially the contributions to the bio-energy field, will be discussed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Upconversion of non-recycled MSW paper fractions into biochar via slow pyrolysis and life cycle analysis: Pathways to net negative GHG emission

This study presents an integrated and sustainable approach to valorizing non-recycled municipal solid waste (MSW), a heterogeneous and underutilized waste stream destined for landfilling, by converting it into valuable biochar resources. Specifically, we investigated the upcycling of nonrecycled paper waste based on compositional analysis into four major fractions: high cellulose, high lignin, high contamination, and high ash content papers. These fractions were then homogenized and subjected to slow pyrolysis. The high cellulose fraction (36.1 %) was the most abundant, and contained 66.7 % cellulose, while the high lignin fraction showed the highest lignin (12.1 %) and carbon content (44 %), resulting in highest energy value of 17.4 MJ kg −1 . Biochar yields ranged from 25.6 % to 35.6 %, with the high ash fraction producing the highest yield and alkalinity (pH ≈ 11.2) due to its higher mineral content. Elemental analysis revealed enhanced carbon content up to 76.9 % and reduced oxygen and hydrogen, confirming effective carbonization. The high lignin-derived biochar showed the highest aromatic carbon content (82.8 %) and greater structural stability, while contaminated and ash-rich fractions exhibited dense, low-porosity surfaces due to the presence of contaminants and minerals. Spectroscopic analysis revealed degradation of carbohydrates, disappearance of cellulose peaks and formation of aromatic and mineral derived phases. The scaled life cycle process yielded a global warming potential (GWP) of 119.3 kg CO 2 -eq per ton of dry paper waste, offset by soil carbon sequestration of − 556.41 kg CO 2 -eq, resulting in a net impact of − 427.36 kg CO 2 -eq. This represents a net carbon removal exceeding by ~186 % the emissions associated with landfilling paper waste with electricity generation.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gypsum and clay-based additives to MSW for pre-combustion enhancement of syngas and solid residue improvement (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

This project was focused on the development of a cost-effective and practical approach for the recovery of metals and syngas from municipal solid waste (MSW) thermally processed in a gasification or combustion (i.e. waste-to-energy (WTE)) facility with the inclusion of other waste streams. The goal of additional waste inclusion was targeted to change the oxidation of critical and precious elements to enable them to be more efficiently recovered. The project had two main components: laboratory testing and techno-economic analysis (TEA). The additional waste included with MSW as gypsum and spent FCC (sFCC) catalyst as additives to improve material recovery and energy efficiency in MSW and WTE ash.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Understanding the trade-offs of national municipal solid waste estimation methods for circular economy policy

Policies embracing circular economy concepts have taken hold in national legislation around the world. As the number of governments and organizations adopting circular economy policies increases, so does the need for accurate and timely measurement of material resource flows. Since many countries do not have access to centrally reported municipal solid waste (MSW) data, estimation and modeling are critical in evaluating circular economy policy effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to examine three modeling approaches estimating national MSW data in the United States, including industry-based material flow analysis, waste-extended input-output modeling, and aggregated regional waste reporting. We establish five criteria to guide the analysis through the context of policy monitoring (data quality, flow totality, update frequency, sensitivity to disruption, and product granularity) and use these criteria to analyze and score each model. We then use a literature search to identify five, internationally-implemented options for circular economy policy and determine the data and modeling components that are most helpful in evaluating policy effectiveness. Finally, we provide a crosswalk of the model scores and policy needs to inform the suitability of model selection by policy type. We found that data quality and update frequency are identified as critical components for evaluating circular economy policies within the models evaluated, and can both be fulfilled by aggregated regional waste reporting. Flow totality, sensitivity to disruption, and product granularity requirements vary by both model and policy types. While none of the evaluated models satisfy the combination of requirements for any of the five policies, industry-based material flow analysis offers flow totality for extended producer responsibility, landfill bans, and recycling rate target policies that typically require it. Here, the waste-extended input-output model can provide disruption sensitivity and product granularity as needed for policies like minimum recycled content and market restrictions. Policy developers in areas where strong centralized data collection is not an option should design policy action(s) with modeling tradeoffs in mind, including the potential hybridization of modeling approaches that may provide the most accurate national MSW estimates.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Life cycle analysis of gasification and Fischer-Tropsch conversion of municipal solid waste for transportation fuel production

Non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW) can be used as feedstock for liquid fuel production via gasification followed by Fischer-Tropsch (FT) processes. Given the heterogeneity of MSW material composition and variation in material properties, its convertibility to liquid hydrocarbon fuels could vary widely, affecting the sustainability of utilizing non-recyclable MSW for fuel production. This study evaluates the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (carbon intensities [CIs]) of FT fuels from non-recyclable MSW. Key issues that could greatly affect the CIs were examined, including fossil carbon content of the MSW, emission implications of diverting non-recyclable MSW from landfills to fuel production, and conversion efficiency. Results show that the CIs of fuels produced from various waste streams range 80–105 gCO2e/MJ, which may exceed the CI of petroleum fuels. Higher fossil carbon content in the MSW feedstock tends to incur higher GHG emissions as biogenic carbon emissions are considered carbon neutral. Meanwhile, diverting different fractions of non-recyclable MSW, such as food waste and low-quality paper, from landfills may result in GHG emissions that may include the potential avoidance of methane emissions and potential sequestration of biogenic carbon that is foregone. To reduce GHG emissions, a carbon capture and sequestration option in the fuel production stage is considered, which could reduce the CI by 53–64 gCO2e/MJ. Carbon fates of different non-recyclable MSW in landfills are further evaluated to determine how they vary and impact the CIs of MSW-derived fuels.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring New Applications of Municipal Solid Waste

This study aimed to (i) characterize municipal solid waste (MSW) sourced from Utah and Michigan transfer stations and (ii) upcycle, produce, and evaluate composites derived from this MSW. Composition analysis showed that the MSW was composed of a variety of commodity plastics, paper/cardboard, and inorganic materials. Detailed chemical analysis for lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lipids was performed. The plastics identified were mainly polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly (ethylene terephthalate). The compoundability of the MSW was assessed by torque rheometry. Composites were prepared by compounding the MSW in an extruder. A composite flexural strength of 29 MPa and a modulus of 1.0 GPa was achieved. The thermal properties of the composites were also determined. The melt flow behavior of the MSW composites at 190 °C was comparable to wood plastic composite formulations.

characterization↗
DOE OSTI2023

Grinding and Pelleting Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste Fractions

The efficient utilization of low-cost carbon feedstocks, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), in biorefineries has become increasingly important for reducing GHG emissions and meeting the growing demand for renewable energy sources. However, MSW as a feedstock presents several challenges, including high moisture content, compositional variability, particle size and shape, density, and ash content. To address these challenges, the potential of mechanical dewatering and high-moisture pelleting processes for densifying MSW fractions, such as paper, cardboard, thin plastic, and thick plastic, into low-cost carbon feedstocks with improved handling and conversion properties were investigated. The effect of these preprocessing technologies on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the resulting pellets, including bulk density, durability, and size uniformity, were evaluated. The results showed that with these preprocessing technologies, the paper and cardboard fractions could be pelleted at moisture contents over 40% (w.b.) while achieving >99% durability and >300 kg/m3, while the high moisture plastic fractions were not suitable for pelleting. The thick plastic fraction processed in a screw press was shown to remove up to 30% of the moisture content in a single pass. These findings suggest that these mechanical preprocessing technologies can improve the physical properties of low-cost municipal solid waste fractions for biofuels production.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗