Solid waste management through plasma arc gasification in Delhi: A step towards swachh bharat

Abstract

Developing countries like India are facing a predicament scenario because of the solid waste and hence its management is becoming a critical issue. As urbanization is increasing, enhanced municipal solid waste and its unscientific handling are degrading the urban environment and causing health hazard. Various methods like landfilling (major source of methane (CH4) emissions), incineration, composting have been used, but due to too slow operation, these processes have not fully satisfied the growing needs of the waste management. In this paper, we have shown that how CO2 emissions can be prevented from a coal-fired thermal power plant in Delhi, if a better method, i.e., plasma arc gasification (PAG) process is used for waste management and power generation using the municipal solid waste generated in the city, which is the need of the hour. The plasma gasification process ensures close loop cycle, thereby reducing the pollutants from the air. We have done a complete analysis of waste generation and emission production, and it is concluded that by this approach we can reduce major pollutants causing global warming due to municipal solid waste. In the present work, we have calculated that technology based on CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) like plasma arc gasification is implemented large amount of carbon dioxide emission can be prevented in addition to power generation that could suffice the energy need of the city.