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Abstract: The implementation of a circular economy is a fundamental step to create a greater and more sustainable future for a better use of resources and energy. Wastes and in particular municipal solid waste represent an untapped source of carbon (and hydrogen) to produce a large range of chemicals from methane to alcohols (as methanol or ethanol) or urea. The waste to chemical process and related economics are assessed in this concept article to show the validity of such solution both from an economic point of view and from an environmental perspective considering the sensible reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with respect to conventional production from fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economics and environmental impact of a new technology for the production of urea from municipal solid waste, particularly the residue-derived fuel (RdF) fraction, is analyzed. Estimates indicate a cost of production of approximately €135 per ton of urea (internal rate of return more than 10 %) and savings of approximately 0.113 tons of CH4 and approximately 0.78 tons of CO2 per ton of urea produced. Thus, the results show that this waste-to-urea (WtU) technology is both economically valuable and environmentally advantageous (in terms of saving resources and limiting carbon footprint) for the production of chemicals from municipal solid waste in comparison with both the production of urea with conventional technology (starting from natural gas) and the use of RdF to produce electrical energy (waste-to-energy). A further benefit is the lower environmental impact of the solid residue produced from RdF conversion. The further benefit of this technology is the possibility to realize distributed fertilizer production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The gasification of MSW to hydrogen and reducing gas was successfully simulated. • Different scenarios have been analyzed varying energy mix. • Energetic analysis returned an overall efficiency of 63.6% • Economic analysis returned a payback period of about 6 years. • The calculated saving of CO 2 was equal to 581 kt/y. The aim of this study is to provide a complete energy, economic and environmental analysis of a waste to chemical process that treats a feed mixture composed of Refused Derived Fuel and Plasmix, transforming it into syngas. The process was implemented in the Aspen Plus® simulation environment, where also a sensitivity analysis returning the maximum value of humidity allowable in three different scenarios of waste mixture has been carried out. Moreover, an economic analysis has been performed in which, on the basis of capital expenditure, operating costs and revenues of the plant, Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) has been assessed, finding a value of 599 M€ and 28% respectively. Finally, environmental analysis has been performed; a comparison between the carbon dioxide emissions of the case "as it is now" versus "how it could be" with the waste to chemical process implemented has been carried out in which it was calculated a saving of around 581 kt/y of CO 2 emitted in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste-to-Chemicals production represents a sustainable pathway considering the new Circular Economy approach and the environmental problems related to waste disposal management. This paper concerns about the LDPE production starting from a nonrecyclable plastic waste feedstock, providing a solution to both plastic demand and plastic waste disposal. The proposed process combines different technologies starting from a high temperature gasification of waste, which leads to a no tar syngas production. The present paper provides a feasibility analysis in order to reach an interesting product yield and an innovative process configuration, reporting the overall plant block scheme and the Process Flow Diagram. The heat and material balances of the entire production chain, including the steam production, the byproducts separations and the plant furnace units, were developed via the simulation software Aspen Plus V8.0. The paper shows each simulator flowsheet of some significant plant sections, reporting all the necessary equipment and thermal recoveries and the properties of each plant unit outlet stream. Last but not at least a feedstock analysis is developed by comparing the mixed plastic feedstock to the RDF one, showing the resulting data and considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]