Combustible gaseous products from pyrolysis of combustible fractions of municipal solid waste

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) sample was pyrolysed under inert atmosphere of nitrogen in a static bed pyrolysis reactor, heated at a controlled rate of 10°C min-1 to a final temperature of 700°C to recover combustible gaseous product. The yield of the combustible gaseous product was 23.01 wt%. Other pyrolysis products were 32.00 wt% char and 44.99 wt% oil. The combustible gaseous product evolved, analysed off line by gas chromatography to contain mainly CO2, CO, H2, CH4, C2H6 and C3H8 has relatively high calorific value of 18.0 MJ m-3, making the gas suitable for use as a fuel. The significance of this research is that the pyrolysis recovered combustible gas can now be stored conveniently and easily transported for various applications. This research, in addition to providing energy needs if implemented, has the capacity to stimulate regular collection of MSW to feed a pyrolysis plant thereby reducing accumulation of the waste in communities, especially in developing countries.