The global generation of urban or municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased considerably in recent decades. Currently this figure has grown to an equivalent of 1.2 kg of MSW inhab− 1 day− 1. For the year 2025 an increase in MSW production is expected, reaching 1.42 kg MSW inhab− 1 day− 1 [1]. Some of the causes of this increase correspond to high population growth, consumer habits in industrialized countries, and also changes in the habits of consumers in developing countries. In 2018 Chile already generated 7.7 Mt MSW year− 1 [2]. Various MSW treatment techniques have been developed [3], such as landfill disposal, incineration, recycling, composting and biodegradation for energy purposes [4]. Additionally, gasification technologies are an alternative that has advantages over the previously mentioned technologies [5], since there is no formation of furans or carcinogenic dioxins compared to the incineration of MSW, there is also no free discharge of polluting gases into the atmosphere and it does not discriminate carbonaceous material such as biodigestion, which only works with organic waste. Gasification corresponds to a thermochemical process in which a carbon-rich substrate is transformed into a gas through the application of heat, directly or indirectly and in the presence of gasifying agents to generate a mixture of gases, called gas of synthesis or syngas, composed mainly of CO, CH4, CO2, N2, H2 [6]. Syngas is generated through a set of reactions that includes moisture vaporization, pyrolysis, combustion and reduction [7]. The gasifying agent is a gas, or a mixture of them, that injects oxygen to thermochemical reactions. Different gasification agents can be used, the most common being air, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor [8], the latest having a direct effect on the economy of the process, since steam can generate an increase in cost with respect to of the air [9]. Air is the most common gasification agent; however its use tends to dilute the syngas, reducing its calorific value [10]. The syngas produced from solid waste can be classified into three categories according to its calorific value (CV), these are: low CV (3.5 to 10.0 MJ m− 3), medium CV, (10.0 to 20.0 MJ m − 3) and high CP (20.0 to 35.0 MJ m− 3). Low calorie syngas includes a significant amount of N2 or CO2 and can be used in combustion processes, where the fuel gas does not need to be of very high purity. The medium CV syngas is suitable for use in gas turbines. Finally, the high CV syngas is useful besides gas turbines, in production of synthetic natural gas and different fuels production [11].
The production of CO and H2 was studied, with respect to five variants of gasifying agents, demonstrating the benefit of using the proportion 21% O2/79% H2O to obtain greater amounts of combustible gases. The total volume fraction of H2 and CO decreased from 51.7–49.7% with a particle size that increased from 20 < d < 30 mm to 80 < d < 100 mm in a vapor atmosphere. With a increase in temperature from 600°C to 1000°C, the total volume fraction of H2 and CO increased from 56.1–65.8%. In this case, the maximum production ratio of H2 and CO occurred between 750 and 950 ° C. The optimal operating temperature would be between 800–850°C [12]. The cogasification of MSW with biomass, specifically Panicum virgatum [13], was also evaluated. Three proportions 0, 20 and 40% of MSW were applied, obtaining a syngas CV of 6.2, 6.5 and 6.7 MJ m− 3 respectively. In a joint gasification study of wood, coal and plastic waste in a fluidized bed gasifier, it was found that the CV of the synthesis gas produced increased from 5.1 MJ m− 3 to 7.9 MJ m− 3 when the content of plastic waste in the mixture increased from 0–100% [14]. Another investigation used a gasifier with a moving grid and the RSM was introduced into the reactor without any separation or prior grinding. The basic composition of the synthesis gas corresponded to H2, CH4 and CO, with CV between 1.9 and 10.2 MJ kg− 1 [15]. The moisture content has a significant effect on the effectiveness of the thermochemical conversion, because when increasing the moisture content from 0 to 40%, the CV of the MSW, decreases by 66%. Generally, the desirable moisture content for the gasification application is less than 20%. When it is greater than 60%, a secondary treatment is necessary to reduce humidity, such as an extruder [10]. In the particular case of Chile, the moisture content of MSW is between 40–60% [16].
The general objective of this study was to develop a technical-economic evaluation of a possible gasification and electricity generation plant, using Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the commune of Chillán, Chile.