Gasification of Municipal Solid Waste for Power Generation in Brazil, a Review of Available Technologies and Their Environmental Benefits

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on thermochemical processing of municipal solid waste as the final disposal in Brazil, explores recent publications in the field of solid waste generated, its origin, characteristics and removal mechanisms currently employed, in the same way , available technologies for the thermochemical treatment of MSW with an emphasis on gasification and clean technology are evaluated, highlighting the current technical and reported in the literature in order to identify indicators of efficiency and flexibility of the technology. From the review it is concluded that gasification is a technically feasible option for the thermochemical conversion of municipal solid waste and subsequent power generation, besides being a technology that meets the applicable emission limits. Some of the main advantages of gasification of municipal solid waste are: (a) the sharp reduction in the waste mass (about 70-80%) and volume (approximately 80-90%); (b) the drastic reduction in land use, 1:3000; (c) destruction of organic pollutants and other halogenated hydrocarbons; (d) concentration and immobilisation of inorganic contaminants so that they can be used effectively and safely removed; (e) use recyclables, such as ferrous metals, ferrous ash and slag materials; (f) reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by anaerobic decomposition of organic waste and (g) power generation.