Pyrolysis/Non-thermal Plasma/Catalysis Processing of Refuse-Derived Fuel for Upgraded Oil and Gas Production

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste (MSW) yields bio-oil unsuitable for direct use due to high oxygen, acidity, and viscosity.
• Upgrading RDF bio-oil is crucial for its utilization in conventional combustion systems.
• Existing upgrading methods often require harsh conditions or are inefficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel process combining pyrolysis with non-thermal plasma and catalysis for RDF upgrading.
• To investigate the deoxygenation efficiency and product yields (bio-oil and gases) under various catalytic conditions.
• To analyze the synergistic effects between non-thermal plasma and different catalysts (TiO₂, MCM-41, ZSM-5, Al₂O₃).

Main Methods:

• Volatiles from RDF pyrolysis were directly fed into a non-thermal plasma/catalytic reactor.
• Experiments were conducted with and without catalysts to assess plasma-only and plasma-catalytic effects.
• Product oils and gases were analyzed in detail concerning process conditions and catalyst type.

Main Results:

• Non-thermal plasma alone significantly reduced bio-oil oxygen content and increased CO/CO₂ yields, confirming deoxygenation.
• Catalysts MCM-41 and ZSM-5, in synergy with plasma, produced the highest yields of CO, CO₂, and H₂.
• Catalyst ranking for reduced oxygenated oil yield: MCM-41 < ZSM-5 < TiO₂ < Al₂O₃.

Conclusions:

• The combined non-thermal plasma and catalysis process effectively deoxygenates RDF pyrolysis volatiles via decarboxylation and decarbonylation.
• Synergistic interaction between plasma-generated radicals and catalysts enhances the upgrading process.
• This novel approach offers a promising pathway for producing cleaner bio-oils and valuable gases from MSW.