Page 172 - Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation

152 Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation

187.3 thousand cubic meter. It is reported that fossil fuel reserve depletion
times for oil, coal, and gas have been estimated to be for maximum of
35, 107, and 37 years, respectively [2]. Modern compression ignition (CI)
engines combine exceptional performance with higher power output and
have capability to use high-quality renewable fuels, which can be derived
efficiently from waste such as nonedible oils, biomass, and organic waste.
Use of renewable fuels for power generation applications is utmost essential
in the present energy scenario because they are biodegradable, providing
energy security and foreign exchange saving. Further, they address environ-
mental concerns and socioeconomic issues as well. Some of the environ-
mental issues are harmful exhaust emissions, soil quality deterioration, dirty
areas development in city, illegal dumping and nonsanitary land fill of indus-
trial and municipal solid and polyethylene wastes due to greater utilization
of plastics, and growing population with increasing life quality leading to
greater environmental degradation [3].
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is inevitable and is produced due to hu-
man activities. MSW mainly consists of low-density plastics (polyethylene),
metal pieces, newspapers, and plastic bottles and domestic kitchen organic
waste, etc. Waste wood and other organic substances can be conveniently
reutilized by burning waste in incineration plants [4]. For power genera-
tion, waste biomass can be utilized in a gasifier and produce gaseous fuel
called producer gas. This gas can be used for heating or engine applications.
Further plastics can also be used for fuel production using catalytic and
thermal cracking process. But, power generation using waste is uneconom-
ical because it is not profitable and huge collection of waste occurs. Also,
it is time-consuming and difficult to combust MSW. Using waste for fuel
production and subsequent engine utilization, pollution or environmental
degradation can be reduced. In practice, fuel derived from waste can be
used along with existing power generation plants. But, energy density of
fuel derived from waste is very less; hence, to enhance the energy density
of fuel, the waste can be mixed with little amount of woody biomass along
with catalysts. Characterization of fuel oil derived from waste plastics as per
standards of ASTM D 975 and EN 590 has been reported [5]. High-density
plastics lead to highest liquid fraction, but use of catalyst lowers the liquid
fraction and increases the gaseous fraction [6].
In this context, Government of India is trying to eliminate the waste
completely, with several attractive schemes, but still the positive development
has yet to take place. Therefore, stringent regulation is necessary to estab-
lish an integrated waste management system for environmental protection.