STUDY OF CHANGES IN CHARACTERISTICS OF REFUSE DERIVED FUEL DURING BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROCESS WITH “PEUYEUMISASI” METHOD

• Main Author: Lazuardy Hasan, Satria
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/81840
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Indonesia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including those from the energy sector. Co-firing coal with biomass technology can be an option to reduce GHG emissions in the power generation sector. However, burning biomass, including municipal solid waste (MSW), is relatively less efficient due to its high moisture content and low calorific value. The peuyeumisasi method, which can improve the quality of MSW as refuse derived fuel (RDF) for co-firing fuel, has been widely applied in the last 10 years. However, there has been no systematic scientific research studying the changes that occur during this biological treatment with peuyeumisasi method. Therefore, this research focuses on studying the changes in RDF characteristics during peuyeumisasi, including the pyrolysis and combustion behavior of RDF. The peuyeumisasi experiment was conducted for 12 days on selected MSW, using bamboo cages as containers. The MSW used included tofu dregs, spent coffee grounds, coconut dregs, and onion peels. The research began with the preparation of MSW and bamboo cages, as well as the creation of a bioactivator solution enriched with molasses. After the MSW was mixed with the bioactivator and placed in bamboo cages, the peuyeumisasi process began. Temperature measurements and sampling were carried out periodically, followed by proximate analysis to assess compositional changes. Then, several samples with significant proximate changes were analyzed for ultimate composition, gross calorific value (GCV), fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), and quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) to determine the changes in composition and characteristics of the RDF. The peuyeumisasi process was effective in reducing moisture, from 68% to 27% (vs. control 42%) in air dried basis (ADB), and increasing the calorific value of RDF, from 1,578 to 4,459 kcal/kg, ADB (vs. control 2,888 kcal/kg). This increase in calorific value was due to a combination of decreased moisture and VM, as some VM was consumed by microorganisms. During peuyeumisasi, nitrogen content increased due to nitrification, while carbon and oxygen content adjusted according to the results of microbial activity. Based on STA-QMS results, RDF pyrolysis produced more biochar that was relatively less reactive when burned because it had lost some VM. In contrast, the initial MSW produced more light hydrocarbon gases.