POTENTIAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FUEL IN AWKA FOR ENERGY GENERATION.

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in an area is significant in the production of “eco-friendly fuels and as substitutes for renewable sources of energy,” depending on appropriate materials selection to achieve desirable invention. The selection of a specific area’s MSW for energy/industrial drives depends on the chemical constituents. This research focused on the physical and elemental evaluation of MSW in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. The Chemical make-up of the waste samples was established following the American Standard Test Method procedure, while the physical characteristics were ascertained through direct measurements with the official report.  The following were the obtained average elemental evaluation results: 74.88 % Volatile solid, 5.10% ash, 15.40 % Moisture content, 4.65% Fixed carbon, 46.03% carbon, 2.13% nitrogen and 0.22% sulphur. The average calorific value was gotten as 26.675MJ/kg using the XRY-1A model bomb calorimeter. The attained outcome implied that MSW generated in Awka would yield good renewable fuels due to its high percentage of volatile matter and its minimal inert gasses with high calorific value. On the basis of about 63,786 ton/annum capacity incineration plant of about 105 MWh of electricity energy could be generated from the wastes and with 26,152 ton/annum capacity gasification plant of about 50 MWh could be generated.