Thermal kinetic parameters based classification method of residual waste oriented for efficient energy utilization

Thermal kinetic heterogeneity of mixed residual waste (RW) is a serious problem leading to unsatisfactory efficiency and stability during energy utilization processes. This work proposed a thermal kinetic parameters based classification method of RW. Considering the significant relevance between kinetic parameters and elemental compositions, the latter were used as indicators to establish the sorting principle. The proximate analysis results and kinetic parameters among the new categories were analyzed, the kinetic heterogeneity reduction performance versus the traditional classification method was compared, and the working mechanism of the proposed classification method was discussed. Three new RW categories were obtained, and the composition and kinetic parameters among these new categories have significant difference (P < 0.05). The kinetic heterogeneity was reduced compared with the traditional classification method. The absolute value of Pearson correlation coefficient between elemental composition and kinetic parameters could reach 0.8, proving the mechanism of the new classification method. The study is hopeful to facilitate efficient energy utilization of RW.