Combustion characteristics and gasification kinetics of Brazilian municipal solid waste subjected to different atmospheres by thermogravimetric analysis.

[Display omitted] • TGA analysis was performed for MSW components (food waste, paper, and plastics). • Solid residues of paper were 2 and 10 times higher than plastic and food. • Air/CO 2 reduced the burnout temperature by 300 ℃ for food waste than CO 2. • Combustion index (S) of MSW under Air/CO 2 was 4 times more than CO 2. • MSW reduced H f by 2.5 times than food waste, promising better combustion. This study examines the gasification kinetics of Brazilian municipal solid waste (MSW) and its components under air, CO 2, and air/CO 2 (70/30 vol%) atmospheres. The ignition indices of paper and plastic are 6 and 3 times that of food waste, which are 38.6 × 10−3 %/min3 and 19.6 × 10−3 %/min3, respectively, implying a faster separation of volatile compounds from the paper and plastic. The minimum E α values of 132 kJ/mol and 140 kJ/mol have been obtained for paper waste under air and air/CO 2 , respectively. On CO 2 condition, MSW has an average E a value of 96 kJ/mol. Under an air/CO 2 atmosphere, a high synergistic ΔW of −4.7 wt% has been identified between individual components. The presence of air and CO 2 improves the oxidation and char gasification process, thus resulting in better combustion. Hence, the gasification of MSW under an air/CO 2 atmosphere would improve the waste-to-energy plant's performance and minimize the CO 2 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]