Synergetic Effect of Proximate and Ultimate Analysis on the Heating Value of Municipal Solid Waste of Ado – Ekiti, Metropolis, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The municipal solid waste which is a threat to the environment can be effectively utilized to boost the economic prosperity of where this waste is being generated. One of the way by which it can be utilized is energy production. The results generated in the proximate and ultimate analysis of the waste sample can be used to determine the specific energy content of the solid waste in the absence of bomb calorimeter. The samples of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) were sorted, sundried, pulverized and sieved. These analyses were carried out on the combustible components of MSW in Ado-Ekiti to determine the percentage Moisture Content (MC), Fixed Carbon (FC), Volatile Matter (VM) Ash Content (AC), Nitrogen Content (N), Sulphur Content (S) and Total Carbon (C) by monitoring the weight change at different desired temperatures according to the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) carried out on the combustible components of MSW in Ado–Ekiti showed that the moisture content of the components varied from 0.82% in polythene products waste to 12.79% in leaves and vegetables, volatile matter ranged from 6.70% in textiles to 67.12% in bones, the fixed carbon varied from 13.89% in rubber and leather to 81.62% in textiles, ash content ranged from 4.78% in coconut and palm kernel ton 76.48% in charcoal, the total carbon varied from 57.85% in paper and cardboards to 88.37% in textiles. The nitrogen content ranged from 0.36% in polythene products to 5.88% in fruits. Sulphur content also varied from 0.03% in coconut and palm kernel to 0.26% in leaves and vegetable. The lower the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content and nitrogen content the higher the specific energy content of the MSW while the higher the, sulphur content, total carbon and fixed carbon the higher the specific energy content of the MSW .The heating value of waste can be determined by the analytical method using the data obtained in the proximate and ultimate analysis of the solid waste sample.