G. S.

Mandal's
Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad
AICTE APPROVED, NAAC GRADE-A

Department of Civil Engineering, Academic Year (2020-21) Semester-VII

Course Title : Solid Waste Management (CED-431 )

Open Elective-II Course Teacher :

CED Mr. Sujit J. Gatkal (Asst. Prof.)
Final Year B. Tech. Contact id-
sujit.gatkal@mit.asia
 Unit 4
Waste Processing

Processing technologies: Composting, thermal conversion

technologies incineration, treatment of biomedical wastes. Energy
recovery from solid waste: Parameters affecting energy recovery,
Bio-methanation, Fundamentals of thermal processing, Pyrolysis,
I nc i ne ra t i o n, A d v a nt a g e s a nd d i sa d v a nt a g e s o f v a ri o us
technological options.
Minimum – 20 Marks (8 Hours)
1. Introduction:

Waste Processing
• In this section of Solid waste management we will discuss
the technologies used for treatment of solid waste to recover
some valuable products. But before treatment of waste; it
should be processed as per the desired technology.
 WASTE PROCESSING

• Waste processing means the physical alteration in waste to make it

best suited for technology adopted for its treatment.

• The processing of wastes helps in achieving the best possible benefit

from every functional element of the solid waste management (SWM)
system. It requires proper selection of techniques and equipment for
every element to derive maximum economical value.

• Various methods used in waste processing are baling, shredding,

compaction, drying, metal segregation etc.
Three major objectives of any processing done on waste
are:-
• Processing techniques are used in solid waste management systems
1. To improve the ef fic iency of solid-Waste disposal systems : the
technology should always help in making the waste transport and
storage effective.
Example – waste paper is baled to reduce transporting and storage
volume requirements, compaction and shredding of waste is done to
improve the efficiency of the transportation and disposal.
2. To recover Resources : materials with high market value and in
suf ficient quantity are recovered from mixed waste by various segregation
techniques .
Example - paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, ferrous metal, aluminum
and other residual metals
3. To prepare materials for the recovery of conversion products and
energy.

• Combustible organic materials can be converted to intermediate

products and ultimately to usable energy. Incineration, pyrolysis,
composting or bio-digestion. Shredding and drying is necessary
before the waste material can be used for power generation to
reduce moisture content.

• At the stage of storage and transportation, it is very important to

store maximum waste in one truck and small storage area. This
reduces the fright of trucks and storage space thus reduces the
investment. Various methods are used to reduce the volume of
waste. The most widely used techniques are mechanical, chemical
and thermal techniques of volume reduction.
MATERIAL

SEPARATION AND
PROCESSING
TECHNIQUES IN
WASTE
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION

 Waste separation is the process by which waste is separated into

different elements.
 Separation is used to permit more ef ficient processing of waste
components.
 And can be separated in
 Material recovery facilities
 Mechanical biological treatment system

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TYPES OF SEPARATION PROCESSES

Picking
Screening
Magnetic separation
Air classification
Optical separation
Eddy's current method
Flotation

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PICKING
 Most positive way to achieve the recovery and reuse of
materials.
 Manual separation of solid waste can be accomplished at
source where
 Solid waste are generated
 Transfer station
 Centralized processing station
 Disposal site

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Manual sorting rates and ef ficiencies

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 SCREENING

 Screens are used for achieving ef ficient separation of particles

through dependence on differences between particle sizes with
respect to any two dimensions.
 Screening process can be use for oversized feed stocks as well
as for undersized feed stock.
Types of screening process
a) Tromel screening
b) Disc screening

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TROMEL SCREENING

• The Tromel screen is perforated rotating drum.

• Set at an angle to allow for gravity feed and discharge.
• Ef fic ient for processing mixed waste and other mixtures
where large, f lat particles (e.g., paper) and aggregate-type
particles (e.g., crushed glass) must be separated.

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 DISC SCREENING

• Disc screens have been employed in many waste processing

facilities.
• A disc screen consists of a number of evenly spaced shafts
in a horizontal plane f it ted with discs such that their
interference patterns form openings through which the
undersize material will f low. All of the shafts rotate in the
same direction, thus carrying infeed material from one end
of the screen to the other.

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MAGNETIC SEPARATION
 Magnetic separation is a process used to segregate magnetic
(i.e., ferrous) metal from a mixture of different types of
materials, e.g., mixed waste or commingled metal, glass, and
plastic containers.
 The process is technically simple and of relatively low cost.

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AIR CLASSIFICATION
Process of separating categories of materials by way of differences in
their respective aerodynamic characteristics.
(aerodynamic characteristic of a particular material is primarily a
function of the size, geometry, and density of the particles.)

Horizontal air vertical air 16

Typical operating and performance characteristics of air
classifiers used for recovery

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 EDDY CURRENT SEPARATOR
 Eddy current separator uses a powerful magnetic f ie ld to
separate non- ferrous metals from waste.
 Eddy current separators are not designed to sort ferrous
metals which become hot inside the eddy current f ield.
 Consists of a
 short belt conveyor
 high speed magnetic rotor system

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OPTICAL SORTERS
 Optical sorting machines are the incorporation of optical
sensors along with mechanical separators.
 Small, powerful air jets blow targeted materials off of a
conveyor belt.
 Optical sorters distinguish color differences based on visible
light but
also distinguish different materials, like plastics, resins, glass.

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FLOTATION SYSTEM
• I t se p arate hyd rop hob i c p ar ti c ul ate s f rom hyd rop hi l i c
particulates by passing f ine air bubbles up through a solid-
liquid mixture.
• The f ine bubbles attach to and lift or f lo at the hydrophobic
particles up where they are collected.

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 PLASTIC PROCESSING

Plastics including PET bottles ,food trays etc. can be recycled through
following process.
Fine
Receiving
crushin washer
yard
g

Bale Coarse
dehydrator
opener crushing

Colour Labels/ca
bottles PET
p
separatio f lakes
separation
n
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Plastic processing

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 PAPER PROCESSING
 Separated papers through different
separation techniques is collected
in large container.
Paper is taken to recycling plant ,
separated according to types and
grades.
W a s h e d w i t h s o a p y w a t e r t o
remove ink, plastic film, glue.
 Then mixed with in a container to
make slurry

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 By adding different materials to the slurry,
different paper products can be created,
such as cardboard, newsprints or of fic e
paper.

 The slurry is spread using large rollers into

large thin sheets.

 The paper is left to dry, and then it is rolled

up ready to be cut and sent back to the
shops.

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 GLASS PROCESSING

 Sorting

 Producing glass cullet

 Removing contaminants

 Making recycled glass

 Decolorizing and dying

 Making recycled glass

product

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 METAL PROCESSING
 Collection
from drop-off points and metal recycling centers
 Sorting
into categories for recycling, such as ferrous and non-ferrous
metals.
 Compaction
to allow for more ef ficient recycling
 Shredding
s
to separate the parts into small, manageable pieces
 Melting
to reduce the metals to their base state
 Purification
using processes such as electrolysis
 Molding
into sheets and ingots
 Shipping 21
 CONCLUSION

 Waste separation processes depend upon:

 Nature of waste
 Ef ficiency of the process
 Finances
 Time
 Waste processing technique depend upon the intended use of
waste
• material.

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INCINERATION
 Introduction of incineration process
 Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the
combustion of organic substances contained in waste
materials.

 Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash,

f lue gas and heat.

 The ash is mostly formed by the inorganic constituents of the

waste, and may take the form of solid lumps or particulates
carried by the f lue gas.

 The f lue gases must be cleaned of gaseous and particulate

pollutants before they are dispersed into the atmosphere.

 heat generated by incineration can be used to generate

 Types of incinerators
 Multiple chamber incinerators:
 it is an incinerator with two or more refractory lined
combustion chambers in series separated physically by
refractory walls , interconnected by gas passage .
MUNICIPAL INCINERATOR

It involves the
combustion
of solid waste at
1000ᵒc

Waste converted into

ash, gas, and heat.
Use and by product of incineration

 After the incineration process the left out product can be

used as aggregate for low grade concrete.
 Also used as rod metal.
 Ash is used for making bricks or block manufacturing.
 Steam used for electricity generation by running turbine.
 Also used as f iller material.

 Heat is used for generating Steam, which is used for

electricity generation by running turbine.
 Furans and Dioxins
 It is the most biggest concern for environmentalists.
 These are injurious to health.
 Dioxins and furans are some of the most toxic chemicals
known to science. Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based
chemical compounds with hydrocarbons.
 CARBON DIOXIDE
 CO2 plays a vital role in global warming , as this is green
house gases.

 Generally it is seen that every thing which has carbon in its

composition, is when processed by incineration evoles out
as co2.

 An e xo the rm i c p ro c e ss re l e ase s he at, c ausi ng the

temperature of the immediate surroundings to rise.
 An endothermic process absorbs heat and cools the
surroundings.”
 PYROLISIS OF WASTE
 Pyrolysis can be def ined as the thermal decomposition of organic
material through the application of heat without the addition of
extra air or oxygen.
 In this process thermal decomposition of organic matter at
high temperature take place.
 Pyrolysis is an endothermic process which requires heat for an
external source.
 In this method solid waste material is heated in specially designed
chamber which is called as pyrolysis reactor. In pyrolysis reactor,
heating is carried out in closed environment which is almost
oxygen free at an average temperature above 650o c which may
rise to 1000o c.
 The end products are Hydrogen, methane, carbon mono-oxide, tar
I. Methods of Pyrolysis:

Dry pyrolysis

Oxidizing pyrolysis
 Process of thermal decomposition without access of oxygen
(O₂)
 Products of dry pyrolysis are gas with high heat of combustion,
liquid and solid carbon residue.
 Type of dry pyrolysis depend on the temperature of the process
i.e. Low Temperature Analysis, Medium Temperature Analysis,
High Temperature Analysis.
 Oxidizing pyrolysis
 It’s impossible to achieve a completely oxygen-free atmosphere.

 Thus, a small amount of oxidation occurs. If volatile or semi

- volatile materials are present in the waste, thermal desorption
will also occur.

 Thermal decomposition of industrial waste by its partial

burning or direct contact with end product of fuel combustion.

 This m ethod is used for neutralization of m ost wastes

including “inconvenient” ones for burning are present in the
waste, thermal desorption will also occur.

 Thermal decomposition of industrial waste by its partial

burning or direct contact with end product of fuel combustion

 This method is used for neutralization of most wastes

including “inconvenient” ones for burning
MERITS OF PYROLISIS

 Reduce greenhouse gas emission

 Waste going to landf ill
 Produce marketable product like gases, bio oil , bio chemical,
charcoal.
 Low risk of water pollution
 Low risk of odours
 High rocovery rate of resources
 Minimum health consequence
DEMERITS OF PYROLISIS

 Less capacity
 Less efficiency
 More expensive
 Technology is still evolving
 ADVANTAGES

i) This is most hygienic method, since it ensures the

complete destructions of pathogens

ii) There is no odour trouble or dust nuisance

iii) The heat generated can be used for raising the steam
power

iv) Clinkers produce can be used for the road purpose

DISADVANTAGE

i) Large initial expenditure

ii) Improper operation results air pollution problems and

incomplete reduction of waste materials

iii) Disposal of remaining residue is required

iv) High stacks are needed for the natural draft chimneys
present safety problems
REFERENC
ES

• https:
//www.dep.state.f l.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/recycling/InnovativeGr
ants/IGYear9/f inalreport/Pinellas_IG8-06_Technology_Review.pdf
• www.unep.org/ietc/Portals/.../Waste%20Management/ISWMPlan_Vol1.pdf
• http://wastersblog.com/604/waste-separation-methods/

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Department of Environmental Scieces, QAU Islamabad 43