Municipal Solid Waste Chemistry Worksheet

The components in municipal solid waste (MSW) are given in Table 1 and Table 2.a) Calculate the average moisture content (%);
b) Food waste, paper, wood and yard waste are biodegradable organic matters. Estimate the
chemical composition of this waste (only consider the biodegradable organic matters) as
CaHbOcNdSe
c) Food waste, paper, wood, yard waste and plastics are organic matters and contain energy.
Calculate the total energy content (kJ/kg dry weight) of this solid waste:
Aide memoire:
F: food (%weight); PWY: paper, wood and yard waste (%weight); PLS: plastics: (%weight)
Table 1:
Component
Food waste
Paper
Wood
Yard waste
Plastics
Glass and ceramics
Metals
Total
As collected (% by weight)
15
30
5
12
30
4
4
100
Moisture content (%)
75
10
40
55
0
0
0
Table 2:
Percentage by dry weight
Component
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Sulfur
Ash
Food waste
48
6.4
38
2
0.6
5
Paper
40
6
46
1.4
0.6
6
Wood
50
6
42
0.2
0.1
1.7
Yard waste
47.8
6
38
3.4
0.3
4.5
Plastics
60
7.2
22.8
0
0
10
Glass and
ceramics
Metals
0.5
0.1
0.4
0
0
99
4.5
0.6
4.3
0
0
90.6
Note: Approximate atomic weights
O: 16 S: 32 H: 1 C: 12 N: 14