Municipal solid waste sampling, quantification and seasonal characterization for power evaluation: Energy potential and statistical modelling

Abstract Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) streams of Ilorin was characterized for four months in each season: May to August 2016, representing wet season; and November 2016 to February 2017 representing dry season. Thirty-two samples of 240 L bin volume of MSW were collected randomly, from heaps of wastes at Lasoju/ Eyenkorin for each season. The samples were manually sorted on the metallic (screening) table (1.5 m × 3 m with 10 mm × 10 mm surface mesh). Nine combustible waste fractions, out of the nineteen waste components characterized, were considered for laboratory analysis. Proximate analysis revealed averages of 57% and 55% fixed carbon content for wet and dry seasons respectively. Ultimate analysis gave 29 and 29.2% total carbon content for wet and dry seasons respectively. Models were developed to ascertain the correlation between the physicochemical properties and the heating values of the waste fractions. The MSW predicted for the dry season was 158 tons/day, with generation rate of 0.15 kg/capita/person, heating value of 29 MJ/kg, energy and power potentials of 890.2 M W h and 11.27 MW, respectively. MSW for wet season was 210 tons/day, with 0.02 kg/capita/day, heating value of 26 MJ/kg, energy and power potentials of 1.1 G W h and 1.06 GW, respectively.