Optimizing wet-refuse derived fuel 3 for enhanced energy recovery: A biodrying approach

This study investigates biodrying as a method for processing a specific type of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), namely wet-RDF3, which originates from municipal solid waste with a high content of organic matter, particularly food waste. After undergoing mechanical separation targeting plastic waste, the remaining fraction was shredded to reduce its particle size, resulting in the production of RDF3. Due to its elevated moisture levels, this material exceeded typical RDF3 moisture benchmarks. This study sought to implement biodrying for this feedstock category for the first time, with the aim of increasing its energy recovery potential. The study spanned two weeks, using three lysimeter reactors with different aeration rates (ARs): 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 m³/kg·day, operated under negative aeration, to determine the optimal conditions for reducing moisture content (MC) and improving the low heating value (LHV). The selection of AR values was based on the estimation of organic matter content, as calculated in our previous research. The most effective AR was observed in the AR0.6 lysimeter, which achieved a 54 % moisture reduction, significantly boosting the LHV from 4017 to 5672 kcal/kg. This substantial increase in energy value suggests that biodrying is a promising pretreatment for wet-RDF3 with high initial MC. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing MC in RDF, particularly for wet-RDF3, which poses a challenge due to its high initial moisture levels. Overall, this research contributes significantly to the field of waste engineering, offering valuable insights into managing high-moisture RDF and enhancing its suitability for energy recovery.