Proposal for Implementation of Extraction Mechanism of Raw Materials during Landfill Mining and Its Application in Alternative Fuel Production

Inna Pitak (), Gintaras Denafas, Arūnas Baltušnikas, Marius Praspaliauskas and Stasė-Irena Lukošiūtė
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Inna Pitak: Laboratory of Materials Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania
Gintaras Denafas: Laboratory of Materials Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania
Arūnas Baltušnikas: Laboratory of Materials Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania
Marius Praspaliauskas: Laboratory of Heat-Equipment Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania
Stasė-Irena Lukošiūtė: Laboratory of Materials Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: New approaches to waste management and the demands of the circular economy have changed the management of landfills. Over time, the decomposition of buried waste primarily determines the amount of recyclable and combustible materials. This pilot study attempted to assess the feasibility of extracting and recovering energy-intensive raw materials from landfills by developing a waste extraction mechanism and creating a solid recovered fuel (SRF) production line for use as a replacement fuel in the cement industry. The proposed mechanism consisted of two stages. The first stage was recommended to be carried out on the landfill territory by screening out the fine fraction and extracting inert materials and bulky waste. The second stage should be on the mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant’s territory by adding additional technological equipment to the MBT line. The productivity of the SRF production line was calculated and was 4.9 t/h. The mechanism proposed in the work was tested at the operating test site in Lithuania. The composition of Landfill Mined Residues (LMRs) was studied, and the energy potential of the studied part of the landfill was calculated, which was 196,700 GJ. It has been found that the SRF produced complies with the European Union (EU) standard and, according to its classification characteristics, belongs to class III and can be used as a replacement fuel in the clinker firing process. An environmental and economic efficiency assessment was conducted using SRF in the cement kiln. The calculation result showed that using 10% SRF as a replacement fuel for coal used in clinker firing at 2.51 t/h would save 1274 USD/h in coal costs. This use of SRF will emit 3.64 t/h CO 2 and achieve a net savings of 1355 USD/h. The mechanism proposed in this work aimed at reducing waste in landfills by converting materials into energy resources will help achieve the circular economy’s goals.

Keywords: landfill mining; mechanism; renewable energy; alternative fuel production; properties; cement industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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