Catalyzing Refuse-Derived Fuel Understanding: Quantified Insights from Thermogravimetric Analysis

Abstract This study employs thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to investigate the thermal degradation behavior of various components of refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The analysis is conducted individually for different RDF fractions, including cardboard, mixed papers, mixed plastics, other organics, and fines, alongside raw RDF. TGA experiments are performed in triplicate to ensure repeatability and homogeneity assessment. The results reveal distinct degradation profiles for each material, influenced by moisture content. Cardboard and mixed papers exhibit similar decomposition characteristics attributed to their cellulose content. Cardboard undergoes initial moisture-driven mass loss (5.52%), followed by cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition (58.86%) at 250–400 °C and lignin degradation (10.1%) at 400–500 °C. In contrast, mixed plastics, with an initial moisture content of 0.81%, manifest multiple decomposition steps: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) degradation (3.84%) at 200–335 °C, polystyrene (PS) degradation (6.63%) at 335–400 °C, polypropylene (PP) degradation (24.41%) at 400–450 °C, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation (54.6%) at 400–500 °C. Other organics, with 1.47% initial moisture content, undergo cellulose decomposition (37.98%) at 200–381 °C and polyester/microfilament degradation (21.3%) at 381–450 °C. Fines display cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition (29.8%) at 200–383 °C and plastics/polyester degradation (43%) at 383–550 °C. LDPE in mixed plastics undergoes pure polymer decomposition at 483.6 °C.