Conversion of landscapewaste into bio-coke solid fuel

Abstract

A rapid increase in organic wastes requires an integrated management system that enhances the use of such wastes to achieve sustainable waste management. Among that, landscape waste is an organic yard or garden waste such as leaves and plant trimmings (excluded grass clippings, sod and dirt). The landscape wastes that are dumped or buried in the landfill takes a period of time to decompose but the wastes are increasing from day to day. This research was aimed to study on the abandon landscape waste at the landscape landfill in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM); the pattern of landscape wastes generation in each zone in UTM region; and the suitable evaluation using bio-coke as a newtreatment option to treat the landscape wastes. Landscapewaste collection formwas distributed to all the contractors in each zone to collect the data of the five types of waste; dry leaves, twigs, branches, palm front, and wood. The data analysis obtained show that the dry leaves are the major landscape waste at the UTM landscape landfill which was left abandoned without proper treatment. Finally, the empty fruit bunch (EFB) and dry leaves (combined ina three different aspect ratio of 90:10, 50:50, 0:100) were pyrolyzed at a highly compressed state and at moderate temperature (160 °C). The calorific analyses revealed that bio-coke (Product 1, Product 2, Product 3) had an energy density of 17520.7 J/g, 17338 J/g, and 17186.6 J/g, respectively. Conversion of the landscape waste into solid fuel; bio-coke is the best way to treat the abandon landscape waste.