Progress of the development of reactors for pyrolysis of municipal waste

Abstract

Pyrolysis is a promising process to convert municipal waste into fuels in solid, liquid or gaseous forms or value-added chemicals. The composition of pyrolysis products is affected by many factors, among which the configuration of the pyrolysis reactor is one of the essential parameters, as it influences the heat transfer, mass transfer, residence time of the reaction intermediates, interaction of the volatiles, etc. Up to now, there are varied types of pyrolysis reactors including the rotary-kiln, fixed-bed, batch and semi-batch, fluidized-bed, tubular, plasma and microwave that have been used in the pyrolysis of municipal waste. Each type of reactor has its own configuration and affects the pyrolysis process of municipal waste in distinct ways. There is a necessity for revisiting the progress of the investigation of the characteristics of the pyrolysis of municipal waste in different types of reactors, especially in terms of the kinetics of pyrolysis and the distribution of products. In addition, the techno-economic aspects of the pyrolysis of municipal waste in varied types of reactors are discussed, aiming to assess the potential for large-scale or commercial applications.