Modelling the Energy Content of Municipal Solid Waste (A Case Study of Minna Metropolis)

Abstract

Waste management has assumed importance due to environmental hazards and rapid depletion of the resources of almost all the minerals. Considering the bulk quantity which form the waste in municipal areas, its utilization is posing a challenge to the environment and our natural resources. A physical characterization was performed on 120kg of Municipal solid waste (MSW) sampled for one week. Also an ultimate analysis was carried out on 2kg sample of waste mixed thoroughly. The results of physical characterization show there are 30.58% of paper, 29.53% of plastic. 17.17% of food waste, 32.83% of polythene, 16.42% of metals and 18.58% of glass wastes respectively. Also, the ultimate analysis shows that there are 36.53% of carbon, 10.09% of Nitrogen, 3.39% of Hydrogen, and 1.10% of Sulphur, 37.37% of ash content and 11.52% of oxygen content respectively. About 23,450kg of waste was open dumped by NISEPA trucks during the study period. A HHV of 5840659.35 KJ/120kg was obtained, and it was also found that approximately 488MW of electricity could be generated from the waste materials dumped at the landfill annually.