Catalyzing Refuse-Derived Fuel Understanding: Quantified Insights From Thermogravimetric Analysis

This study employs thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to investigate the thermal degradation behavior of various components of refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The analysis is conducted individually for different RDF fractions, including cardboard, mixed papers, mixed plastics, other organics, and fines, alongside raw RDF. TGA experiments are performed in triplicate to ensure repeatability and homogeneity assessment. The results reveal distinct degradation profiles for each material, influenced by moisture content. Cardboard and mixed papers exhibit similar decomposition characteristics attributed to their cellulose content. Cardboard undergoes initial moisture-driven mass loss (5.52%), followed by cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition (58.86%) at 250-400 degrees C and lignin degradation (10.1%) at 400-500 degrees C. In contrast, mixed plastics, with an initial moisture content of 0.81%, manifest multiple decomposition steps: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) degradation (3.84%) at 200-335 degrees C, polystyrene (PS) degradation (6.63%) at 335-400 degrees C, polypropylene (PP) degradation (24.41%) at 400-450 degrees C, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation (54.6%) at 400-500 degrees C. Other organics, with 1.47% initial moisture content, undergo cellulose decomposition (37.98%) at 200-381 degrees C and polyester/microfilament degradation (21.3%) at 381-450 degrees C. Fines display cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition (29.8%) at 200-383 degrees C and plastics/polyester degradation (43%) at 383-550 degrees C. LDPE in mixed plastics undergoes pure polymer decomposition at 483.6 degrees C.