Lower heating value dynamics during municipal solid waste bio-drying.

In agreement with the new European Union directives concerning the valorization of materials and energy recovery, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is, in general based on an integrated approach characterized by a combination of different treatment processes. The bio-mechanical treatment (BMT) of MSW is an increasing option in Europe either as a pre-treatment before landfilling or as a pre-treatment before combustion. In this context the research on the bio-drying process is not fully developed. In the present paper the Lower Heating Value (LHV) dynamics during MSW bio-drying has been assessed. Measurements were made using a pilot scale bio-dryer that allows the recording of data as air flow, temperature (at the entrance, at the exit and inside the waste), and weight loss. An initial characterization of the MSW completes the input data. Results give information on the dynamics of the main process parameters (humidity, volatile solids, ammonia, Lower Heating Value) and also of additional parameters.