IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jwaste/v2y2024i3p13-239d1433276.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Waste-Derived Chars: A Comprehensive Review

Author

Listed:
  • Santa Margarida Santos

    (VALORIZA, Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal
    MEtRICs, Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Margarida Gonçalves

    (VALORIZA, Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal
    MEtRICs, Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Paulo Brito

    (VALORIZA, Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Catarina Nobre

    (VALORIZA, Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

Abstract

The production of heterogeneous solid waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition waste (CDW), and industrial solid waste (ISW), has increased dramatically in recent decades, and its management is one of today’s biggest concerns. Using waste as a resource to produce value-added materials such as char is one of the most promising strategies for successful and sustainable waste management. Virtually any type of waste, through various thermochemical technologies, including torrefaction, pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and gasification, can produce char with potential material and energy applications. Pyrolysis is the most widespread technology, and there are more studies on producing and applying waste-derived char using this technology. The properties of waste-derived char seem to be influenced by the conversion technology and conditions, as well as by the composition of the source waste. A literature search indicated that the properties of waste-derived char are highly variable with the composition of the raw material, with carbon content in the range 8–77%, a higher heating value of 2.5–28.4 MJ/kg and a specific surface area of 0.7–12 m 2 /g. Depending on the properties of char derived from waste, there are greater or minor difficulties in applying it, with ash content, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations being some of its limiting properties. Therefore, this review attempts to compile relevant knowledge on the production of waste-derived char, focusing on heterogeneous solid waste, applied technologies, and practical application routes in the real world to create a supply chain, marketing, and use of waste-derived char. Some challenges and prospects for waste-derived char are also highlighted in this study.

Suggested Citation

  • Santa Margarida Santos & Margarida Gonçalves & Paulo Brito & Catarina Nobre, 2024. "Waste-Derived Chars: A Comprehensive Review," Waste, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:2:y:2024:i:3:p:13-239:d:1433276
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/2/3/13/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/2/3/13/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Afonso R. G. Azevedo & Alan Marinho Costa & Daiane Cecchin & Carlos Rodrigues Pereira & Markssuel Teixeira Marvila & Adeyemi Adesina, 2022. "Economic potential comparative of reusing different industrial solid wastes in cementitious composites: a case study in Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 5938-5961, April.
    2. Rudra, Souman & Tesfagaber, Yohannes Kifle, 2019. "Future district heating plant integrated with municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification for hydrogen production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 881-892.
    3. Nobre, Catarina & Longo, Andrei & Vilarinho, Cândida & Gonçalves, Margarida, 2020. "Gasification of pellets produced from blends of biomass wastes and refuse derived fuel chars," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1294-1303.
    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. Song, Yuhang & Tian, Ye & Zhou, Xiong & Liang, Shimang & Li, Xuanyu & Yang, Yu & Yuan, Liang, 2021. "Simulation of air-steam gasification of pine sawdust in an updraft gasification system for production of hydrogen-rich producer gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    2. Ana Luiza Paes & Jonas Alexandre & Gustavo de Castro Xavier & Sérgio Neves Monteiro & Afonso Rangel Garcez de Azevedo, 2022. "Feasibility Analysis of Mortar Development with Ornamental Rock Waste for Coating Application by Mechanized Projection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    3. 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).
    4. Zhou, Yuekuan & Zheng, Siqian & Hensen, Jan L.M., 2024. "Machine learning-based digital district heating/cooling with renewable integrations and advanced low-carbon transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    5. J. Baalamurugan & V. Ganesh Kumar & R. Padmapriya & V. K. Bupesh Raja, 2024. "Recent applications of steel slag in construction industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 2865-2896, February.
    6. Vhuthu Ndou & Isaac Tebogo Rampedi, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management Research: Global and South African Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Fayez Nasir Al-Rowaili & Siddig S. Khalafalla & Aqil Jamal & Dhaffer S. Al-Yami & Umer Zahid & Eid M. Al-Mutairi, 2021. "Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hydrogen Production via Gasification of Vacuum Residue Integrated with Dry Methane Reforming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Liu, Qian & Sun, Jianguo & Gu, Yonghua & Zhong, Wenqi & Gao, Ke, 2024. "Experimental study on CO2 co-gasification characteristics of biomass and waste plastics: Insight into interaction and targeted regulation method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    9. Anna Grzegórska & Piotr Rybarczyk & Valdas Lukoševičius & Joanna Sobczak & Andrzej Rogala, 2021. "Smart Asset Management for District Heating Systems in the Baltic Sea Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-25, January.
    10. Wienchol, Paulina & Szlęk, Andrzej & Ditaranto, Mario, 2020. "Waste-to-energy technology integrated with carbon capture – Challenges and opportunities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    11. 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).
    12. Vilardi, Giorgio & Verdone, Nicola, 2022. "Exergy analysis of municipal solid waste incineration processes: The use of O2-enriched air and the oxy-combustion process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    13. Xue, Xiaojun & Li, Yang & Liu, Shugen & Xu, Gang & Zheng, Lixing, 2024. "Performance analysis of a new compressed air energy storage system coupled with the municipal solid waste power generation systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    14. Mika Fabricius & Daniel Øland Tarp & Thomas Wehl Rasmussen & Ahmad Arabkoohsar, 2020. "Utilization of Excess Production of Waste-Fired CHP Plants for District Cooling Supply, an Effective Solution for a Serious Challenge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    15. Santa Margarida Santos & Ana Carolina Assis & Leandro Gomes & Catarina Nobre & Paulo Brito, 2022. "Waste Gasification Technologies: A Brief Overview," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-26, December.
    16. Čespiva, J. & Skřínský, J. & Vereš, J. & Wnukowski, M. & Serenčíšová, J. & Ochodek, T., 2023. "Solid recovered fuel gasification in sliding bed reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    17. Willie Doaemo & Sahil Dhiman & Alexander Borovskis & Wenlan Zhang & Sumedha Bhat & Srishti Jaipuria & Mirzi Betasolo, 2021. "Assessment of municipal solid waste management system in Lae City, Papua New Guinea in the context of sustainable development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(12), pages 18509-18539, December.
    18. Nielsen, Tore Bach & Lund, Henrik & Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Duic, Neven & Mathiesen, Brian Vad, 2021. "Perspectives on energy efficiency and smart energy systems from the 5th SESAAU2019 conference," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    19. Tokmurzin, Diyar & Kuspangaliyeva, Botagoz & Aimbetov, Berik & Abylkhani, Bexultan & Inglezakis, Vassilis & Anthony, Edward J. & Sarbassov, Yerbol, 2020. "Characterization of solid char produced from pyrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, high volatile coal and their blends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    20. Abiodun Abdulhameed Amusa & Anwar Johari & Suleiman Abimbola Yahaya, 2025. "Advancing biomass pyrolysis: a bibliometric analysis of global research trends (2002–2022)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 8265-8316, April.

    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:jwaste:v:2:y:2024:i:3:p:13-239:d:1433276. 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.