Evaluation of RDF production from municipal solid waste: A case study for Izmir city-Turkey

Waste is an important and inevitable consequences of human activities; therefore, solid waste management becomes the most important and difficult problem for cities. As the amount of the solid wastes increases, the need to find new recovery methods increases. Therefore, these wastes can be used in the waste to energy plants or cement factories as waste fuel or refuse derived fuel (RDF). This study explains characterization, classification, production, properties and application area of Refuse Derived Fuels (RDFs) produced from solid waste of Izmir. Firstly, solid wastes are taken from three districts of each country; Karsiyaka, Bornova and Konak. After separation of recyclables, the remaining part (mostly biodegradables) of solid wastes is sieved from six different mesh sizes. The parameters performed within the project are moisture, net calorific value, organic matter, ash content, carbon content, heavy metals contents and water soluble chlorine content. The water content found 62.6 percent should be less than 35 percent with regard to the Statement about RDF of Turkey in order to provide efficient combustion process. Moreover, the chlorine content should be less than 1 percent as defined in the Statement and the average chlorine content of the samples were found as 0.86 percent. The calorific value of solid wastes in Izmir found as 2941 kcal/kg is sufficient and other parameters are appropriate with respect to the literature and Statement about RDF of Turkey If the water content is handled properly and the necessary adjustment for chlorine contents is done, efficient performance from the RDF can be obtained.