TORREFACTION OF MOIST MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE PELLETS USING CHAR OF BAGASSE AS A MICROWAVE ABSORBER

The torrefaction of moist municipal solid waste (MSW) pellets using char of bagasse as a microwave absorber (MA) is carried out in a microwave oven at the microwave power of 500-800 W for 12 min. After the torrefaction, moisture is completely removed from the MSW-pellet samples. The solid and energy yields of the torrefied MSW-pellet samples decrease, whereas the higher heating value (HHV) increases, with an increase in the microwave power and the addition of the MA. The hydrogen/carbon (H/C) and oxygen/carbon (O/C) mass ratios of the torrefied MSW-pellet samples decrease and tend towards those of coal. The torrefaction of the MSW pellets at the microwave power of 500 W with the addition of the MA is recommended as it yields the torrefied MSW-pellet samples with the highest HHV and energy yield.