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Evaluation of properties and composition of the mixed municipal waste fine fraction, the case study of Czech Republic

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Abstract

Estimation of mixed municipal waste composition is important for the option of suitable waste treatment. Many studies have presented their methodologies for analysing the composition of mixed municipal waste, but no uniform approach is available. The significant part of mixed municipal waste can be the fine fraction, depending on the analysis approach used. Nevertheless, the more detailed composition of fine fraction is unknown. This contribution aims to present chemical analysis of fine fraction of mixed municipal waste obtained from the city of Brno, Czech Republic. The mixed municipal waste in study area consists of about 25% fine fraction. The amount of moisture and the combustible part of the waste are first monitored in fine fraction. The elemental composition of non-combustible waste and its phase composition is further evaluated. The approach to chemical analysis has been designed to be easily repeatable and can complement routine manual waste analyses. The results of the analysis in the studied area showed the potential for energy utilisation of the fine fraction, even if the waste separation is increased. In addition, fine fraction contains metals suitable for material recovery, which can be separated from the slag after incineration and thus promote the material recovery of waste.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by ERDF within the research project No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_026/0008413 “Strategic Partnership for Environmental Technologies and Energy Production” and the project TIRSMZP719 provided by TACR (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic).

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  1. Institute of Material Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic

    Jakub Palovčík & Barbora Šmírová

  2. TERMIZO a.s., Liberec, Czech Republic

    Josef Jadrný

  3. Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic

    Veronika Smejkalová & Radovan Šomplák

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  1. Jakub Palovčík
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The literature review was made by JJ and VS. The data were collected by JJ. The chemical analysis was designed by JP and analysis was performed by JP and BŠ. The results were evaluated by JP a RŠ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by VS and all authors commented on previous version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Veronika Smejkalová.

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Palovčík, J., Jadrný, J., Smejkalová, V. et al. Evaluation of properties and composition of the mixed municipal waste fine fraction, the case study of Czech Republic. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 550–564 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-022-01534-2

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