Emissions from Carpet Combustion in a Pilot-Scale Rotary Kiln: Comparison with Coal and Particle-Board Combustion

The use of post-consumer carpet as a potential fuel substitute in cement kilns and other high-temperature processes is being considered to address the problem of huge volumes of carpet waste and the opportunity of waste-to-energy recovery. Carpet represents a high volume waste stream, provides high...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) Vol. 58; no. 8; pp. 1070 - 1076
Main Authors:	Konopa, Stephanie Lucero, Mulholland, James A., Realff, Matthew J., Lemieux, Paul M.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Pittsburgh, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2008 Air & Waste Management Association Air and Waste Management Association Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis Air Pollution - analysis Applied sciences Atmospheric pollution Carbon dioxide Carpet industry Cement kilns Cement plants Coal - analysis Combustion Conservation of Energy Resources - methods Construction Materials Emissions (Pollution) Emissions testing Environmental aspects Exact sciences and technology Municipal solid waste NGOs Nitric oxide Nongovernmental organizations Performance standards Pollution Recycling Sulfur content Temperature United States United States Environmental Protection Agency Water - chemistry United States Pellet Mixing Volatility Carbon dioxide Energy recovery Combustion Solid fuel Rotary kiln Pollutant emission Sulfur dioxide Surveillance Coal Cement Particleboard Air pollution Substitute Natural gas
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Summary:	The use of post-consumer carpet as a potential fuel substitute in cement kilns and other high-temperature processes is being considered to address the problem of huge volumes of carpet waste and the opportunity of waste-to-energy recovery. Carpet represents a high volume waste stream, provides high energy value, and contains other recoverable materials for the production of cement. This research studied the emission characteristics of burning 0.46-kg charges of chopped nylon carpet squares, pulverized coal, and particle-board pellets in a pilot-scale natural gas-fired rotary kiln. Carpet was tested with different amounts of water added. Emissions of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and total hydrocarbons and temperatures were continuously monitored. It was found that carpet burned faster and more completely than coal and particle board, with a rapid volatile release that resulted in large and variable transient emission peaks. NO emissions from carpet combustion ranged from 0.06 to 0.15 g/MJ and were inversely related to CO emissions. Carpet combustion yielded higher NO emissions than coal and particle-board combustion, consistent with its higher nitrogen content. SO 2 emissions were highest for coal combustion, consistent with its higher sulfur content than carpet or particle board. Adding water to carpet slowed its burn time and reduced variability in the emission transients, reducing the CO peak but increasing NO emissions. Results of this study indicate that carpet waste can be used as an effective alternative fuel, with the caveats that it might be necessary to wet carpet or chop it finely to avoid excessive transient puff emissions due to its high volatility compared with other solid fuels, and that controlled mixing of combustion air might be used to control NO emissions from nylon carpet.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1096-2247 2162-2906
DOI:	10.3155/1047-3289.58.8.1070