Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis
A study of Abuja’s municipal solid waste (MSW) samples using the scanning electron microscopy analysis was undertaken in this work. In the face of the severe energy poverty being experienced in Nigeria which largely depends on diminishing fossil fuel resources coupled with the associated problem of...
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College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Nigeria
2024-03-01
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| Series: | ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/331 |
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| author | Paul Adah Ondachi Idris Ibrahim Ozigis Musa Tanko Zarmai |
| author_facet | Paul Adah Ondachi Idris Ibrahim Ozigis Musa Tanko Zarmai |
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A study of Abuja’s municipal solid waste (MSW) samples using the scanning electron microscopy analysis was undertaken in this work. In the face of the severe energy poverty being experienced in Nigeria which largely depends on diminishing fossil fuel resources coupled with the associated problem of greenhouse gas emission, the energy potential available in municipal solid wastes needs to be investigated. Using MSW as a fuel source for electric energy production will also positively impact on Abuja’s waste management. This present study requires the analysis of the MSW with aim of confirming that products of its incineration will not be hazardous to the environment. ASTM E 1508 procedures for utilizing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) were followed to identify elements that would be contained in the bottom ash of the incineration process of samples of Abuja’s municipal solid wastes obtained from selected districts of the city. Elemental composition of the bottom ash that will be formed from incineration of Abuja’s MSW was obtained by the use of energy dispersive x-ray analysis. The micrographs plotted indicate that silicon and iron are the principal elements present in the samples with values for silicon and iron being highest at 49.5 and 19.55%, respectively, for the sample from Dutse-Alhaji. The tests also show the presence of silver in the organic wastes generated in Abuja, while presence of sulphur is very minimal. The silicon levels present in Abuja’s municipal solid waste compare well with values for Nigerian coals which have percent silicon contents ranging from 39.0 – 49.4% (Enugu coal – 39.0%; Okaba – 44.8%; Maiganga – 49.4%). The test results also show that Abuja’s MSW samples had grain sizes ranging from 3.5 mm 16 mm. The results indicate Abuja’s MSW combustion rate will be lower than for pulverised coal which is known to have much lower grain size in the range of 75 μm to 106 μm and will need shredding before firing since grain size is a very critical determinant factor in solid fuel combustion rate and burn-out time. The tests conclusively show that Abuja’s MSW will be a more environmentally friendly fuel than coal because of its lower sulphur content.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3bdbeaa0815b4d83a35c080b2a0cbe8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2756-6811 2645-2685 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Nigeria |
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| series | ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development |
| spelling | doaj-art-3bdbeaa0815b4d83a35c080b2a0cbe8b2024-12-31T10:19:20ZengCollege of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, NigeriaABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development2756-68112645-26852024-03-017110.53982/ajerd.2024.0701.07-j282Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy AnalysisPaul Adah Ondachi0Idris Ibrahim Ozigis1Musa Tanko Zarmai2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baze University, Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Abuja, Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria A study of Abuja’s municipal solid waste (MSW) samples using the scanning electron microscopy analysis was undertaken in this work. In the face of the severe energy poverty being experienced in Nigeria which largely depends on diminishing fossil fuel resources coupled with the associated problem of greenhouse gas emission, the energy potential available in municipal solid wastes needs to be investigated. Using MSW as a fuel source for electric energy production will also positively impact on Abuja’s waste management. This present study requires the analysis of the MSW with aim of confirming that products of its incineration will not be hazardous to the environment. ASTM E 1508 procedures for utilizing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) were followed to identify elements that would be contained in the bottom ash of the incineration process of samples of Abuja’s municipal solid wastes obtained from selected districts of the city. Elemental composition of the bottom ash that will be formed from incineration of Abuja’s MSW was obtained by the use of energy dispersive x-ray analysis. The micrographs plotted indicate that silicon and iron are the principal elements present in the samples with values for silicon and iron being highest at 49.5 and 19.55%, respectively, for the sample from Dutse-Alhaji. The tests also show the presence of silver in the organic wastes generated in Abuja, while presence of sulphur is very minimal. The silicon levels present in Abuja’s municipal solid waste compare well with values for Nigerian coals which have percent silicon contents ranging from 39.0 – 49.4% (Enugu coal – 39.0%; Okaba – 44.8%; Maiganga – 49.4%). The test results also show that Abuja’s MSW samples had grain sizes ranging from 3.5 mm 16 mm. The results indicate Abuja’s MSW combustion rate will be lower than for pulverised coal which is known to have much lower grain size in the range of 75 μm to 106 μm and will need shredding before firing since grain size is a very critical determinant factor in solid fuel combustion rate and burn-out time. The tests conclusively show that Abuja’s MSW will be a more environmentally friendly fuel than coal because of its lower sulphur content. https://journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/331Scanning Electron MicroscopyMunicipal Solid WasteEnergy DispersiveX-ray Analysis'IncinerationElemental Composition |
| spellingShingle | Paul Adah Ondachi Idris Ibrahim Ozigis Musa Tanko Zarmai Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development Scanning Electron Microscopy Municipal Solid Waste Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis' Incineration Elemental Composition |
| title | Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis |
| title_full | Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis |
| title_short | Harnessing Abuja's Municipal Solid Waste as a Renewable Energy Source: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis |
| title_sort | harnessing abuja s municipal solid waste as a renewable energy source scanning electron microscopy analysis |
| topic | Scanning Electron Microscopy Municipal Solid Waste Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis' Incineration Elemental Composition |
| url | https://journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/331 |
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