IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i10p2429-d1652043.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Refuse-Derived Fuel with the Addition of Peanut Shells: An Evaluation Using a Decision-Making Support Algorithm

Author

Listed:
  • Natália Dadario

    (School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil)

  • Mário Mollo Neto

    (School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil)

  • Felipe André dos Santos

    (School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil)

  • Luís Roberto Almeida Gabriel Filho

    (School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil)

  • Camila Pires Cremasco

    (School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil)

Abstract

Brazil has made progress in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management through national legislation focused on integrated waste handling. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding MSW overproduction. A sustainable alternative is Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), generated from MSW with or without biomass addition. To be viable for combustion, RDF must meet established energy and environmental quality standards. In this context, a mathematical model based on fuzzy logic was developed to classify RDF quality and support decision-making. Five RDF samples were tested, evaluating their Lower Heating Value (LHV), chlorine, and mercury contents using calorimetry, atomic absorption, and X-ray fluorescence. Results indicate that RDF produced solely from MSW tends to have inadequate LHV, necessitating drying pretreatment. Even with the addition of peanut shells, the highest classification achieved was “Regular”, suggesting limited suitability for combustion in furnaces or boilers without pretreatment. Since the general composition of MSW in Brazil is consistent with the characteristics analyzed, RDF may remain unviable for energy recovery under similar conditions. Economic feasibility studies on drying are recommended, especially in urban centers with limited landfill space.

Suggested Citation

  • Natália Dadario & Mário Mollo Neto & Felipe André dos Santos & Luís Roberto Almeida Gabriel Filho & Camila Pires Cremasco, 2025. "Refuse-Derived Fuel with the Addition of Peanut Shells: An Evaluation Using a Decision-Making Support Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2429-:d:1652043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2429/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2429/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chavando, José Antonio Mayoral & Silva, Valter Bruno & Tarelho, Luís A.C. & Cardoso, João Sousa & Eusébio, Daniela, 2022. "Snapshot review of refuse-derived fuels," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumar, Aman & Singh, Ekta & Mishra, Rahul & Lo, Shang Lien & Kumar, Sunil, 2023. "Global trends in municipal solid waste treatment technologies through the lens of sustainable energy development opportunity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    2. Fazil, A. & Kumar, Sandeep & Mahajani, Sanjay M., 2023. "Gasification and Co-gasification of paper-rich, high-ash refuse-derived fuel in downdraft gasifier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    3. Santa Margarida Santos & Catarina Nobre & Paulo Brito & Margarida Gonçalves, 2023. "Brief Overview of Refuse-Derived Fuel Production and Energetic Valorization: Applied Technology and Main Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    4. Ranwei Ren & Haiming Wang & Changfu You, 2022. "Steam Gasification of Refuse-Derived Fuel with CaO Modification for Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Dimoski, Jana & Vukčević Marković, Maša & Stojadinović, Irena & Milić, Ana & Ajduković, Dean, 2025. "Conceptualization of hope among adolescents and youth from refugee backgrounds in a transit context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    6. Michal Stričík & Lenka Kuhnová & Miroslav Variny & Petra Szaryszová & Branislav Kršák & Ľubomír Štrba, 2024. "An Opportunity for Coal Thermal Power Plants Facing Phase-Out: Case of the Power Plant Vojany (Slovakia)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Marcelina Bury & Tadeusz Dziok & Karel Borovec & Piotr Burmistrz, 2023. "Influence of RDF Composition on Mercury Release during Thermal Pretreatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Antonio Chavando & Valter Bruno Silva & João Sousa Cardoso & Daniela Eusebio, 2025. "Evaluating Coal, RDF, and Ammonia Blends in Power Plants: Techno-Economic Insights and Coal Phase-Out Implications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-29, March.
    9. Gałko, Grzegorz & Mazur, Izabela & Rejdak, Michał & Jagustyn, Barbara & Hrabak, Joanna & Ouadi, Miloud & Jahangiri, Hessam & Sajdak, Marcin, 2023. "Evaluation of alternative refuse-derived fuel use as a valuable resource in various valorised applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    10. Juan Jesús De la Torre Bayo & Montserrat Zamorano Toro & Luz Marina Ruiz & Juan Carlos Torres Rojo & Jaime Martín Pascual, 2023. "Analysing the Sustainability of the Production of Solid Recovered Fuel from Screening Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2429-:d:1652043. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.