Properties of Densified-refuse Derived Fuel Using Glycerin as a Binder

Much attention has been recently paid to the refuse derived fuels (RDFs) due to its benefits in aspects of municipal solid waste management and waste to energy technology. Densified-refuse derived fuel (RDF5) with different raw materials were produced and characterized in this study. Municipal solid wastes used as raw materials for the RDF5 production were sawdust, corrugated paper, plastic bag, and dry cooked rice. Influences of raw material volumetric mixing ratio, extrusion temperature and addition of glycerin as a binder on properties of the RDF5 produced were experimentally investigated. It was found that an increase of dry cooked rice amount and an addition of the glycerin in the mixture led to an increase of density and a decrease of compressive strength of the RDF5. Densities and compressive strengths were in the ranges of 1.4-2.3 g/cm3 and 75-457 N/cm2, respectively. Addition of the glycerin also increased the overall thermal efficiency of the cookstove using RDF5 as a fuel. While greater amount of dry cooked rice in the mixture had a negative effect on the overall thermal efficiency. However, extrusion temperature had no obvious effect on the properties of the fuel.