MABINI COLLEGES, INC.

HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Daet, Camarines Norte

Prototype Plastic Incinerator with Toxic Gas

Filter and Electricity Producing Turbine

Espinosa, Rich Danzell P.

Francisco, David Micah

Marquez, Lean Miguel

Centeno. Angela

De Leon, Lorelyn

Researchers
 CHAPTER 1

The Problem

Introduction

Pollution is one of the major global issues that the humanity is facing. It is

considered as a catastrophic problem as it affects the lives of humans in many different

ways. Water pollution limits the reservoir of clean water for humans to drink, air

pollution affects the respiratory system resulting to different illnesses such as pneumonia

and lung cancer, soil pollution degrades the soil quality causing the shortage for arable

lands thus diminishing the supply of foods resulting to famines and malnutrition.

Therefore, it is not a question why pollution is considered as a major problem.

Plastic is one of the top contributors of pollutants in the planet. One of the major

problems it causes is the pollution of the bodies of water specifically the ocean where

marine life exists. In 2018 alone, approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic,

weighing 269,000 tons are found present in the ocean (Surfers Against Sewage, 2019).

The bigger problem is that a single plastic bottle can last for 450 years in the marine

environment, slowly fragmenting into much smaller pieces which eventually end up

microscopic but never truly go away. Recent studies have revealed marine plastic

pollution in 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of seabird

species examined (Surfers Against Sewage, 2019). Also 100,000 marine mammals and

turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.

Burning of plastics is not ideal as it produces toxic gasses that cause air pollution

and harms the environment. Plastic incinerators are somewhat useful but the filters that it

has is not cheap and takes up a large sum of money just to reproduce it and market, thus
it is also not ideal. In view of these, most of the poorer developing nations such as the

Philippines are forced to use landfills and open-air incinerations just to handle their

growing trash problems. With the burning of plastics, the toxic gasses such as nitrogen

oxides, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic chemicals are released to the environment

resulting to air pollution and harming every living organism and the atmosphere.

Aside from the burning of plastics, production of electricity is also harming the

environment because majority of electricity is harnessed from coal power plants that

produces toxic fumes which further harms the environment and worsens air pollution.

Although alternative sources such as hydroelectric powerplants, windmills and solar

farms are available, coal power plant is still the most widely chosen method of power

generation. In fact, energy from coal powerplants increased by 3% in 2018 (similar to the

2017 increase), and for the first time crossed the 10 000 TWh mark. Coal remains firmly

in place as the largest source of power at 38% of overall generation. Growth was mainly

in Asia, particularly in China and India. That said, investment in coal-fired power

declined by nearly 3% to the lowest level since 2004, and final investment decisions for

new plants continue to decline. Coal-fired generation without CCUS needs to decrease

5.8% per year to 2030 to be in line with the SDS (Malischek, 2019).

When coal is burned it releases a number of airborne toxins and pollutants. They

include mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other

heavy metals. Health impacts can range from asthma and breathing difficulties, to brain

damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death. Although

limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have helped prevent some of

these emissions, many plants don’t have the necessary pollution controls installed. The
future of these protections remains unclear. Therefore, coal power plants are not just

harmful to the environment but also harmful to humans as it brings a lot of diseases that

causes negative effects to the human body.

Electricity from coals is also very expensive, due to this, it is considered as a

major problem in developing nations in which the Philippines belong to where most of

the population is impoverished. With an expensive price, it is hard to sustain a stable

connection of electricity with just an average salary of 534 pesos per family. Due to this,

it further weighs down the living quality of the citizens as the price for electricity spent

per month is as high as 1,500 pesos for an average family.

At present the researchers, as a citizen of the Philippines and a member of the

global community, seeks to resolve these issues regarding improper plastic incineration

and the lack of sources of cheap electricity. It is in this light that the device PLASTIC

INCINERATOR WITH ELECTRICITY PRODUCING TURBINE will be made and be

tested to address these alarming issues that the Philippines and the world are facing.
Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this experimental study is to test the ability of a plastic incinerator

with toxic gas filter and electricity producing steam turbine as a cheaper and ecofriendly

alternative to expensive garbage incinerators and harmful electric powerplants. The

device also aims to filter harmful and toxic gasses from the burning plastics and to make

use of the heat as source of electricity using a turbine. In this stage of the research, the

plastic incinerator is defined as a durable, cheap and ecofriendly device that filters

harmful gaseous particles from burning plastics and the turbine is defined as a device that

produces electricity from the heat produced through incineration.

Specifically, the researchers seek to answer the following questions:

1. Is there a significant difference in the air quality between the device and

open-air plastic incineration in terms of the amount of the harmful gasses

present in the air?

2. What is the lowest and the highest power output of the turbine?
Hypotheses
The current study will be guided by the following hypothesis:

Null

1. There is no significant difference in the air quality between the device

and open-air plastic incineration in terms of the amount of the harmful

gasses present in the air.

2. The turbine produces low amount of electricity.

Alternative

1. There is a significant difference in the air quality between the device

and open-air plastic incineration in terms of the amount of the harmful

gasses present in the air.

2. The turbine produces high amount of electricity.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the efficacy of Plastic Incinerator with Toxic Gas Filter and

Electricity-Producing Turbine. Filtered fumes of incinerated plastic will be used to

generate electricity. It will be conducted on the selected household ofBrgy. Bibirao Daet,

Camarines Norte. The proposed prototype device is limited only for the size of the object

to be burned and also in powering a light bulb to test its efficacy in generating electricity.

The different types and characteristics of soil that will be used are excluded in the study

as well as its amount.

Significance of the Study

The study aims to better the life of the community and to address the alarming

issues regarding improper waste disposal and pollution due to plastic incineration. If the

study will be successful various beneficiaries will be benefited such as:

o Marine Animals. Incinerating plastic waste prevents plastic from reaching

bodies of water -- where marine animals thrive -- doing so helps these organisms

continue enjoying a plastic-less habitat.

o People of Daet. While plastic is being destroyed into ashes, electricity is

generated in the machine throughout the process, for the benefit of the people of

Daet.

o Animals. Although harmful fumes are created from the process, they will not be

able to exit the device because of the filtration, thus, preventing air pollution for

the benefit of both humans and terrestrial animals.

 o Future Researchers. The opportunity to help the community is beneficial for the

researchers conducting this study, if the study will be successful, this can serve as

a stepping stone for various studies regarding ecofriendly plastic incineration and

electricity production using turbines.

Definition of Terms

The following terminologies will be used as the study progresses.

 Turbine. A machine for producing continuous power in which a wheel or rotor,

typically fitted with vanes, is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water,

steam, gas, air, or other fluid (Merriam Webster), in this study turbine will be

defined as the electricity producing device that is powered by the exhaust smoke

coming from the burning plastic.

 Incinerator. An apparatus for burning waste material, especially industrial waste,

at high temperatures until it is reduced to ash (Merriam Webster), its purpose in

this study is to incinerate plastic wastes.

 Prototype. A first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a

machine, from which other forms are developed or copied (Merriam Webster),

the device will be in the form of a prototype in which it is an initial model state.

 Plastic. A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such

as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., that can be molded into shape while soft and

then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form (Google Dictionary), plastics will be

the wastes that will be burned in the incinerator.

Notes
Surfers Against Sewage. (2019). Plastic pollution- facts and figures. Cornwall: St.
Agnes.
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2018). Coal’s impacts include air and water pollution,
worker deaths, and climate change. Massachusetts, USA.
Malishciek, R. (2019). Coal-fired power- tracking clean energy progress. Paris, France.
 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

Related Literature

The literature review discusses the relevant research literatures that is useful to the

objectives of this research project which is to properly incinerate plastic and filter the

harmful gas that it emits while harnessing the heat from the incinerator to produce

electricity. Several research studies investigating the topic under review are found to be

very recent. Since the lack of proper waste disposal management has been a very

malignant problem, many studies have been conducted just to solve and analyze this

issue. Most of the studies chosen have been published in the past four to five years. The

following variables are the major variables of the device:

Filtration

According to the literature survey of Huber, et al. (2015), regarding the incineration

of fluoropolymer in Norway, incineration of fluoropolymer containing products has a

great potential to contribute considerably to the total greenhouse gas emissions of

Norway, but due to the lack of sound data on the fate of fluoropolymers in Norway as

well as of the chemical reactions in the different types of MWI plants in Norway, no

exact amounts can be given at this stage. On-site investigations for revealing a realistic

impression on the compounds formed in Norwegian municipal incinerators are necessary

in order to assess the extent and the composition of the organofluorine emissions. In

addition, a quantitative life cycle assessment for the imported Polytetrafluoroethylene

and other fluoropolymers should be conducted to fill knowledge gaps about the fate of

fluoropolymers in Norway.
Incineration

On the study of Yoshida (2016) about the recycling of e-waste in Southeast Asia

specifically Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, the amount of electronic waste (e-

waste) is rapidly increasing due to economic growth and the advancement of information

technology. End-of-life (EOL), cathode ray tube, (CRT) TVs and computer monitors

make up the greatest proportion of the total mass of e-waste. Because of international

trade in secondhand CRT TVs and monitors and the toxic substances contained in them,

the EOL fate of CRTs is an emerging concern in developing countries. In this study, the

recycling and treatment techniques of EOL CRT TVs/monitors were investigated in three

Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam). The current

recycling methods of CRT TVs/monitors in Japan and China were also reviewed for

comparison. The process flows and destinations of materials or parts at both formal and

informal recycling sites were compared. Among the three countries, only one formal

facility in the Philippines has automated processing equipment for CRTs. CRT glass

handled by informal sectors was illegally dumped or disposed of with regular municipal

solid waste. Some waste CRT glass was also informally recycled as glass materials or

exported to China. A number of recommendations are made to improve recycling

conditions at both formal and informal recycling sites.

The study of Yaptanca, (2018) about open burning of solid waste in the Philippines

has many documented negative effects on human health and the environment. Despite

this information, the practice is still widespread, especially in developing nations such as

the Philippines. An internet-based assessment of national and local laws and ordinances
prohibiting open burning of solid waste was conducted to determine the regulations and

ordinances concerned with open burning. Informal discussions were also held with

barangay officials, law enforcers and ordinary citizens concerning open burning. The

assessment showed that the Philippines is a signatory to an international treaty

advocating the reduction of open burning, has a national law on solid waste management,

and has numerous local government units with ordinances addressing the problem of

open burning. However, information from informal discussions done in Los Baños,

Laguna, Philippines showed that many residents and local officials are not sufficiently

aware of the negative effects of the practice, are not well-versed in the implementation of

laws and ordinances, and consider compliance as merely optional. However, the web

search also revealed initiatives and alternatives to open burning that have been well-

received by the general population of Alaminos City in Pangasinan, Philippines, and

have been well implemented by the authorities concerned.

The study of Brems et al., (2014) study shows that the disposal of waste plastics has

become a major worldwide environmental problem. The USA, Europe and Japan

generate annually about 50 million tons of post-consumer plastic waste, previously

landfilled, generally considered as a non-sustainable and environmentally questionable

option. Landfill sites and their capacity are, moreover, decreasing rapidly, and legislation

is stringent. Several European directives and US legislation concern plastic wastes and

the required management. New processes have emerged, I. e., advanced mechanical

recycling of plastic waste as virgin or second grade plastic feedstock, and thermal

treatments to recycle the waste as virgin monomer, as synthetic fuel gas, or as heat

source (incineration with energy recovery). These processes avoid land filling, where the
non-biodegradable plastics remain a lasting environmental burden. The study reviewed

these alternative options through mostly thermal processing pyrolysis, gasification, and

waste-to-energy). Additional research is, however, still needed to confirm the potential

on pilot and commercial scale.

Incinerator is the major variable of the study, according to Astrup et al., (2015),

Waste incineration can be considered a robust technology for energy recovery from

mixed waste. Modern incinerators are generally able to maintain relatively stable

performance, but changes in waste input and furnace operation may affect emissions.

This study investigated how inorganic air emissions and residue composition at a full-

scale incinerator were affected by known additions of specific waste materials to the

normal municipal solid waste (MSW) input. Six individual experiments were carried out

(% ww of total waste input): NaCl (0.5%), shoes (1.6%), automobile shredder waste

(14%), batteries (0.5%), poly (vinyl chloride) (5.5%) and chromate-cupper-arsenate

impregnated wood (11%). Materials were selected based on chemical composition and

potential for being included or excluded from the waste mix. Critical elements in the

waste materials were identified based on comparison with six experiments including ‘as-

large-as-possible’ changes in furnace operation (oxygen levels, air supply and burnout

level) only using normal MSW as input. The experiments showed that effects from the

added waste materials were significant in relation to: air emissions (in particular As, Cd,

Cr, Hg, Sb), element transfer coefficients, and residue composition (As, Cd, Cl, Cr, Cu,

Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Zn). Changes in furnace operation could not be directly linked to

changes in emissions and residues. The results outlined important elements in waste

which should be addressed in relation to waste incinerator performance. Likely ranges of

element transfer coefficients were provided as the basis for sensitivity analysis of life-

cycle assessment (LCA) results involving waste incinerator technologies.

Electricity Production

According to the study of Zhao, (2017), the municipal solid waste management is

becoming a challenging and vital issue in the Philippines. The typical practice of

Philippine MSW management is landfill, however, poor management of dumpsites has

arisen health and environmental problems. Philippine government are pursuing

innovative solutions for handling waste, in which Waste-to-Energy technologies serve as

alternative methods for waste treatment. The study identified MSW management

problems in the Philippines, and explored Waste-to-Energy possibilities by using

scenario analysis in the area of Metro Manila. The three scenarios are Landfill with LFG

recovery, Mass Incineration and a Combined Strategy, in which mechanical-biological

treatment (MBT) is applied and MSW is separated as biowaste and Refuse-Derived Fuel

(RDF). It is clear that the combined strategy with pretreatment, is the preferable solution

rather than Landfill gas recovery and Mass Incineration with superior electricity

generation potential.

Larens et al., (2016) shows that CO2-loads from combustible waste are important

inputs for national CO2 inventories and life-cycle assessments (LCA). CO2 emissions

from waste incinerators are often expressed by emission factors in kg fossil CO2 emitted

per GJ energy content of the waste. Various studies have shown considerable variations

between emission factors for different incinerators, but the background for these

variations has not been thoroughly examined. One important reason may be variations in

collection of recyclable materials as source separation alters the composition of the

residual waste incinerated. The objective of this study was to quantify the importance of

source separation for determination of emission factors for incineration of residual

household waste. This was done by mimicking various source separation scenarios and

based on waste composition data calculating resulting emission factors for residual waste

routed to incineration. Emission factors ranged from 27 to 40 kg CO2/GJ. The results

appeared most sensitive towards variations in waste composition and water content.

Recycling rates and lower heating values could not be used as simple indicators of the

resulting emission factors for residual household waste; however, the fossil carbon ratio

of the waste after source separation was found to be appropriately correlated with the

emission factor. Based on the results, it is recommended to carefully evaluate the source

separation and collection systems behind reported literature values when comparing

different studies and when using the values for environmental assessment purposes.

On the study of Al Salem, (2019), the energy production, or recovery, is a broad

term that is typically used to cover a wide range of technologies and processes which

will render the material being treated as a fuel to produce power, steam, or heat. The

concept of energy recovery has been predominately associated with waste management

technologies, covering a wide range of processes such as: landfill gas generation, biogas

generation from organic waste, thermolysis, and feedstock recycling for fuel production

and incineration. However, the most commonly associated technology of energy

recovery from waste materials has always been incineration in a waste to energy (WtE)

context. This chapter details the key concepts of this technology that is considered to be

the most widespread technique in energy production from wastebut incineration units are

typically the most applied technology of waste management, and are certainly the most
common treatment of plastics. The chapter starts with a general introduction to the

incineration and combustion science principles. The main controlling parameters of

incineration units are detailed, where feedstock characteristics and applicability for

incineration are discussed.

Related Studies

The review of related studies discusses the relevant studies that will be beneficial to

the objectives of this research project. Several research studies investigating the topic

under review are found to be very recent. Since the lack of proper waste disposal

management has been a very malignant problem, many studies have been conducted just

to solve and analyses this issue. Most of the studies chosen have been published in the

past four to five years. The review found a mix of opinions, each one differs from one

another, varying from one variable to another.

According to the study of Astrup, T., Riber, C., & Pedersen, A.J. (2015), the life

cycle assessment (LCA) has been used extensively within the recent decade to evaluate

the environmental performance of thermal Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies:

incineration, co-combustion, pyrolysis and gasification. A critical review was carried out

involving 250 individual case-studies published in 136 peer-reviewed journal articles

within 1995 and 2013. The studies were evaluated with respect to critical aspects such

as: i) goal and scope definitions (e.g. functional units, system boundaries, temporal and

geographic scopes), ii) detailed technology parameters (e.g. related to waste composition,

technology, gas cleaning, energy recovery, residue management, and inventory data),

and iii) modeling principles (e.g. energy/mass calculation principles, energy substitution,

inclusion of capital goods and uncertainty evaluation). Very few of the published studies

provided full and transparent descriptions of all these aspects, in many cases preventing

an evaluation of the validity of results, and limiting applicability of data and results in

other contexts. The review clearly suggests that the quality of LCA studies of WtE

technologies and systems including energy recovery can be significantly improved.

Based on the review, a detailed overview of assumptions and modeling choices in

existing literature is provided in conjunction with practical recommendations for state-of-

the-art LCA of waste-to energy.

The study of Brogaard., Riber, & Christensen. (2013) shows that the materials

and energy used for the construction of modern waste incineration plants were

quantified. The data was collected from five incineration plants (72 000–240 000 tonnes

per year) built in Scandinavia (Norway, Finland and Denmark) between 2006-2012.

Concrete for the buildings was the main material used amounting to 19 000–26 000

tonnes per plant. The quantification further included six main materials, electronic

systems, cables and all transportation. The energy used for the actual on-site construction

of the incinerators was in the range 4 000–5 000 MWh. In terms of the environmental

burden of producing the materials used in the construction, steel for the building and the

machinery contributed the most. The material and energy used for the construction

corresponded to the emission of 7–14 kg CO2 per tonne of waste combusted throughout

the lifetime of the incineration plant. The assessment showed that, compared to data

reported in the literature on direct emissions from the operation of incinerators, the

environmental impacts caused by the construction of buildings and machinery (capital

goods) could amount to 2–3% with respect to kg CO2 per tonne of waste combusted.

The studies of Li., Liu, Yan, Li., & Han (2016), with its the enormous and

economical development, the communist nation of China is now experiencing a rapid

increase in solid wastes generation and growing pressure for solid wastes management.

Today solid wastes in China are mainly managed by a combination of landfill,

incineration, and composting. Within different possible treatment routes, thermal plasma
technology (TPT) offers the advantages of efficiently gasifying the organic contents of

solid wastes into syngas that can be used for heat and power generation, and vitrifying

the inorganics simultaneously into glassy slag with very low leach abilities. This process

makes it feasible for near-zero emission into the environment while making use of all the

useful components. Encouraged by the industrial operations of solid wastes treatment

plants using TPT in some countries, several plasma demonstration projects have already

been undertaken in China. This paper provides a preliminary overview of the current

laboratory researches and industrial developments status of TPT for the treatment of

solid wastes in China and analyzes the existing challenges. Furthermore, the future

prospects for TPT in China are also discussed.

The study of Sedphoet al., (2017), asserted that the critical issue of waste

management in Thailand has been rapidly increasing in almost all of the cities due to the

economic growth and rising population that could double the amount of solid waste in

landfill area. The alternative ways of waste treatment that have more efficiency and

effectiveness in terms of energy, ecology, and resources become the key issue for each

municipality to replace the old-fashioned technology and be able to enhance the ability

of solid waste problem management. Waste to energy is one of the favorable approaches

to diminish the amount of waste to landfill and utilize waste for electricity.

As stated by Tsuiet al., (2019), the municipal solid waste (MSW) management has

emerged as probably the most pressing issue many governments nowadays are facing.

Traditionally, Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is mostly associated with incineration, but now,

with the emergence of the bioeconomy, it embraces a broader definition comprising any

processing technique that can generate electricity/heat or produce a waste-derived fuel.

Under the ambit of the circular economy many nations are looking for, additional effort

must be made to be sure of acquiring the most updated information and paving a

sustainable path for managing MSW in such a frame. In this regard, have undertaken a

critical review of various technologies, with their updated progress, involved in the

exploitation of MSW as a renewable resource, along with the critical advantages and

limitations on energy and material cycling for sustainable MSW management.

Incineration, the most widely used method, is nowadays difficult to further apply due to

its dubious reputation and social opposition. Meanwhile, to address the organic fraction

of MSW which currently is mostly unrecycled and causes disposal issues, the biological

approach presents an attractive option. The new emphasis of bio economy leads us to

understand how environmental biotechnologies should be better connected/integrated for

more sustainable MSW management. This article is concluded with advances of future

prospects, which can serve as a timely reminder to encourage competent

authorities/researchers to work towards further improvement of the present MSW

management system.

Wu, Lin & Zeng (2014), this study investigates the distribution of heavy metals

during incineration and gasification. Considering that heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd) become

volatile at high temperatures, their concentrations in fly ash increase as the operating

temperature of incineration/gasification increases. By contrast, the efficiency of the bed-

material mixing and the contact between the bed material and the heavy metals inside the

fluidized bed increase when the operating-gas velocity increases; hence, the heavy-metal

content in the bed material also increases. Our results show that the heavy-metal content

in the fly ash increases with the bed-material particle size. The probability of contact
between the heavy metals and the bed material is reduced at higher bed-material particle

sizes; hence, the emission concentration of heavy metals increases. The heavy-metal

concentration in the fly ash after gasification is approximately 1/10–1/30 of that after

incineration. However, the proportion of the heavy metals trapped in the bottom ash after

gasification is higher than that after incineration under any of the operating conditions,

regardless of the volatility of the heavy metals. Overall, gasification lowers the emissions

of heavy metals, but traps more heavy metals in the bottom ash than incineration.

According to the study of Evangelisti, Tagliaferri, Clift, Lettieri, Taylor&

Chapman (2015), the EU landfill and Waste Framework directives are driving new

approaches to waste management in the UK, away from landfilling and mass-burn

incineration, which has been regarded as the main alternative to landfilling. The

objective of this study is to compare the environmental impacts of three dual-stage

advanced energy-from-waste technologies, i.e. gasification and plasma gas cleaning, fast

pyrolysis and combustion and gasification with syngas combustion, with those associated

with conventional treatments for municipal solid waste, i.e. landfill with electricity

production and incineration with electricity production. Results show that the two-stage

gasification and plasma process have a significantly better overall environmental

performance than the conventional waste treatment technologies and somewhat better

than a more modern incineration plant, exemplified by a plant under commissioning in

Lincolnshire in the UK. The benefits of the gasification and plasma process arise

primarily from its higher net electrical efficiency.

As stated by Roes, Patel, Worrell& Ludwig (2012), the municipal solid

waste (MSW) pyrolysis and gasification are in development, stimulated by a more

sustainable waste-to-energy (WtE) option. Since comprehensive comparisons of the

existing WtE technologies are fairly rare, this study aims to conduct a life cycle

assessment (LCA) using two sets of data: theoretical analysis, and case studies of large-

scale commercial plants. Seven systems involving thermal conversion (pyrolysis,

gasification, incineration) and energy utilization (steam cycle, gas

turbine/combined cycle, internal combustion engine) are modeled. Theoretical analysis

results show that pyrolysis and gasification, in particular coupled with a gas

turbine/combined cycle, have the potential to lessen the environmental loadings. The

benefits derive from an improved energy efficiency leading to less fossil-based energy

consumption, and the reduced process emissions by syngas combustion. Comparison

among the four operating plants (incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, gasification-

melting) confirms a preferable performance of the gasification plant attributed to syngas

cleaning. The modern incineration is superior over pyrolysis and gasification-melting at

present, due to the effectiveness of modern flue gas cleaning, use of combined heat and

power(CHP) cycle, and ash recycling. The sensitivity analysis highlights a crucial role of

the plant efficiency and pyrolysis char land utilization. The study indicates that

the heterogeneity of MSW and syngas purification technologies are the most relevant

impediments for the current pyrolysis/gasification-based WtE. Potential development

should incorporate into all process aspects to boost the energy efficiency, improve

incoming waste quality, and achieve efficient residues management.

Synthesis of the State-Of-The-Art

All of the studies are about incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, other

technologies, and different approaches with respect to solid waste management.

The study of Astrupet al., (2015) and Roeset al., (2012) used life cycle

assessment (LCA) to evaluate other technologies and to compare existing waste-to-

energy processes. In the study of Tsuiet al., (2019) and Sedphoet al., (2017), they are

concerned with the government’s issues regarding waste management. Both of the

studies of Evangelistiet al., (2015) and Wu, M.H. et al., (2014) examined different

techniques but they include a conclusion about the better technique to be used.

Brogaardet al., (2013) and Li et al., (2016) studied about different ways on how to lessen

or on how to make it a near-zero emission of incineration.

The difference between the study of Astrup et al. and Roes et al. is that the former

focuses only on the evaluation of different studies (critical review) involving 250

individual case studies published in 136 peer-reviewed journal articles from 1995 to

2013. It also shows how the different studies were evaluated according to: its goal and

scope definitions, detailed technology parameters, and modelling principles. On the other

hand, the latter used two sets of data: theoretical analysis and case studies of large-scale

commercial plants and most especially they have a conclusion with regards to the

evaluation and comparison of the studies. In this study, they compared four operating

plants namely incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and gasification-melting and they

concluded that pyrolysis and gasification with a gas turbine/combined cycle, have the

potential to lessen the environmental loadings.

Tsui et al. (2019) states that the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management has

emerged as probably the most pressing issue many governments are facing nowadays. It

is about the biological approach that emphasizes bioeconomy and negates incineration

which leads to understand how environmental biotechnologies should be better

connected/integrated for more sustainable MSW management. Whereas, bioeconomy is

the processing technique that can generate electricity/heat or produce a waste-derived

fuel. On the other hand, the study of Sedpho et al. (2017) states that one of the favorable

approaches to diminish the amount of waste to landfill and utilize waste for electricity is

waste-to-energy process. Critical issue of waste management in Thailand has been

rapidly increasing. The alternative ways of waste treatment became the key issue to

replace the old-fashioned technology and to enhance the ability of solid waste

management. Merely, the study is all about solid wastes to be used in electricity and

energy processes.

Evangelisti et al. (2015) states that in United Kingdom, EU landfill and Waste

Framework directives are driving new approaches to waste management alternative from

landfilling and mass-burn incineration. To compare the environmental impacts of three

dual-stage advanced energy-from-waste technologies: gasification and plasma gas

cleaning, fast pyrolysis and combustion and gasification with syngas combustion. This

study shows that gasification and plasma process have a significantly better overall

environmental performance than the conventional waste treatment technologies and

better than a modern incineration plant. Then again, the study of Wu et al. investigates
the distribution of heavy metals during incineration and gasification. It also states that

gasification lowers the emissions of heavy metals, but traps more heavy metals in the

bottom ash than incineration.

Brogaard et al. (2013) is distinct from Li et al (2016) because the first study is

about materials and energy used for the construction of modern waste incineration plants

built in Scandinavia (Norway, Finland and Denmark) such that the emission of 7-14 kg

CO2 per tonne of waste combusted throughout the lifetime of the incineration plant. On

the other hand, the latter study states that in China the approach is about thermal plasma

technology (TPT) whereas the process can make it feasible for near-zero emission (from

gasifying organic contents) into the environment while making use of all the useful

components.

These findings support the present study because it resembles to the main

variables that are included such as solid waste management, incineration, technology,

and waste to electricity processes. The present study will not focus on the comparison of

various studies regarding incineration but will only focus on utilizing new technology or

device for solid waste management and most specially to create an electricity-producing

turbine. Finally, the present study deals with the old approach, which is the incineration,

but with a new technique and processes which will lessen the volume of solid wastes in

the environment.
Gap Bridged by the Study

This article is concluded with advances of future prospects, which can serve as a

timely reminder to encourage competent authorities/researchers to work towards further

improvement of the present MSW management system. Other than that, it is not

specified what management plans are to be used in areas that need reduction of plastic

waste.

The heavy-metal concentration in the fly ash after gasification is approximately

1/10–1/30 of that after incineration. However, the proportion of the heavy metals trapped

in the bottom ash after gasification is higher than that after incineration under any of the

operating conditions, regardless of the volatility of the heavy metals. Overall,

gasification lowers the emissions of heavy metals, but traps more heavy metals in the

bottom ash than incineration. This study would improve waste management, but would

not generate power, it would only be an incinerator for plastic waste.

Results show that the two-stage gasification and plasma process have a significantly

better overall environmental performance than the conventional waste treatment

technologies and somewhat better than a more modern incineration plant, exemplified by

a plant under commissioning in Lincolnshire in the UK. The benefits of the gasification

and plasma process arise primarily from its higher net electrical efficiency. Even so, it

does require electricity for the process, instead of generating its own energy.
 The study indicates that the heterogeneity of MSW and syngas purification

technologies are the most relevant impediments for the current pyrolysis/gasification-

based WtE. Potential development should incorporate into all process aspects to boost

the energy efficiency, improve incoming waste quality, and achieve efficient residues

management. However, the costing is not quite affordable, especially for some

municipalities that need devices for plastic waste reduction.

Researchers, as previously stated in the Review of Related Studies and Review of

Related Literature, have their own unique ways of destroying plastic. Most of them are

by burning the plastic completely. The idea of incinerating the waste led the researchers

of this study to modify the idea and are to create their own particular plastic incinerator.

The researchers of this study have their own concept of an incinerator that could not

only destroy plastic, but could also generate electricity, unlike the devices that are

existing today. Moreover, parts of this device, specially the filter comes at a low price.

This is a benefit for the homes of municipalities that would embrace this concept, to

acquire electricity at a low cost. This would improve both waste management and power

generation in certain areas in the Philippinesthat are currently struggling with the

constantly increasing amount of plastic waste.

Theoretical Framework

The particle filtration theory will be used in the study. The theory has three

important variables; the sieving effects, interception and diffusion effects.

The sieving effects infers that particles which are larger in diameter than the

clearance between two fibers cannot pass. It refers to the law of inertia, in reference to

the theory which pertains that large particles have high momentum which makes it more

difficult for them to follow the air stream around a fiber. The particles continue on their

original path, contact the fiber and remain there. These inertial effects increase with

increased air velocity as well as increased size or weight of the particle. Interception

explains the filtration of small particles, the theory variable states that small particles

follow the air flow around the fiber and are captured if they come close enough to the

fiber. The effect increases with increased particle size, smaller fiber diameters and/or

smaller clearance between the fibers. Diffusion in the lengthwise direction of media

fibers can be found only in the case of very small particles such as viruses. The particles

move randomly about within the air stream due to Brownian molecular motion. This

mechanism is only important for particles with diameters < 1 micron.

Aside from the theory of particle filtration, the theory of steam turbine will also be

used in the study. The theory has many variables but the Rankine Cycle Theory of steam

turbine will be the one that is going to be used in the study.

The theory states that the heat is supplied externally to a closed loop, which usually

uses water as the working fluid. The working fluid in the Rankine cycle undergo the

phase change from a liquid to vapor phase and vice versa. While many substances could
be used as the working fluid in the Rankine cycle, water is usually the fluid of choice due

to its favorable properties, such as its non-toxic and unreactive chemistry, abundance,

and low cost, as well as its thermodynamic properties. the compression process in the

pump takes place on a liquid. By condensing the working steam to a liquid, the pressure

at the turbine outlet is lowered and the energy required by the feed pump consumes only

1% to 3% of the turbine output power and these factors contribute to a higher efficiency

for the cycle yielding to the production of higher energy derivative.

The theories presented correlates directly to the study that is going to be conducted

in a way that the filtration of the air particles of burning plastic will be tested and guided

according to the particle filtration theory while the electricity production from the steam

turbine will be guided according to the steam turbine theory specifically the Rankine

cycle. Considering the theories presented, the study aims to filter the toxic gasses coming

out of burning plastic while harnessing electricity using steam turbine powered by the

heat from the incinerator.

Theoretical Paradigm

Filtration Theory

Sieving Effects Interception Diffusion

Device

Rankine Theory of
Steam Turbine

Steam Turbine Theory

 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Knowledge Requirement Planning

a) Identification and  Preliminary investigation of the study.

gathering of
System Analysis Emission of Gas and
materials and tool
Harnessing of Energy
needed for the study  Finding possible and appropriate

to take place solutions.

b) Brainstorming System Design

c) Target group
 Adapting appropriate and durable design
expectation
for the device.

Development

 Improving the device to make it more

functional and usable.

Testing

 Testing the project in live environment

(initial and final testing)

Implementation

 Deployment of the project

 Notes

Huber, S., Moe, M. K., Schmidbauer, J. N., Hansen, G. H., & Herzke, D. (2015).

Emission from Incineration of Fluoropolymer materials: A literature

survey. NILU OR (NILU Oppdragsrapport).

Yoshida, A., Terazono, A., Ballesteros Jr, F. C., Nguyen, D. Q., Sukandar, S., Kojima,

M., & Sakata, S. (2016). E-waste recycling processes in Indonesia, the

Philippines, and Vietnam: a case study of cathode ray tube TVs and

monitors. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 106, 48-58.

Saplala-Yaptenco, S. L. Openburning of solid waste in the Philippines: regulations,

complianceand initiatives.

Zhao, Y. (2017). Municipal solid waste management and waste to energy

possibilities in the Philippines.

Brems, A., Baeyens, J., & Dewil, R. (2014). Recycling andrecoveryof post-consumer

plastic solid waste in a european context. Thermal Science, 16(3).

Larsen, A. W., & Astrup, T. (2016). CO2 emission factors for waste incineration:

Influence from source separation of recyclable materials. Waste

management, 31(7), 1597-1605.

Astrup, T., Riber, C., & Pedersen, A. J. (2015). Incinerator performance: effects of

changes in waste input and furnace operation on air emissions and

residues. Waste Management & Research, 29(10_suppl), S57-S68.

Al-Salem, S. M. (2019). Energy Production from Plastic Solid Waste (PSW).

In Plastics to Energy (pp. 45-64). William Andrew Publishing.

Brogaard, L. K-S., Riber, C., & Christensen, T. H. (2013). Quantifying capital

goods for waste incineration. Waste Management, 33(6), 1390-1396.

Li, J., Liu, K., Yan, S., Li, Y., & Han, D. (2016). Application of thermal plasma

technology for the treatment of solid wastes in China: an overview. Waste

management, 58, 260-269.

Sedpho, S., Sampattagul, S., Chaiyat, N., & Gheewala, S. H. (2017). Conventional

and exergetic life cycle assessment of organic rankine cycle implementation to

municipal waste management: the case study of Mae Hong Son (Thailand). The

International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 22(11), 1773-1784.

Tsui, T. H., & Wong, J. W. (2019). A critical review: emerging bioeconomy and waste-

to-energy technologies for sustainable municipal solid waste management. Waste

Disposal & Sustainable Energy, 1-17.

Wu, M. H., Lin, C. L., & Zeng, W. Y. (2014). Effect of waste incineration and

gasification processes on heavy metal distribution. Fuel Processing

Technology, 125, 67-72.

Evangelisti, S., Tagliaferri, C., Clift, R., Lettieri, P., Taylor, R., & Chapman, C.

(2015). Life cycle assessment of conventional and two-stage advanced

energy-from-waste technologies for municipal solid waste treatment. Journal of

Cleaner Production, 100, 212-223.

Roes, L., Patel, M. K., Worrell, E., & Ludwig, C. (2012). Preliminary evaluation of

risks related to waste incineration of polymer nanocomposites. Science of the

Total Environment, 417, 76-86

 Chapter 3
Methodology
Research Design
The researchers will use the true experimental research design or the pretest and

posttest design where a pretest and posttest will be administered. The pretest will be

conducted to the controlled and experimental groups, the researchers will measure the air

quality from the burning of plastic alone. A posttest will be conducted to both the

controlled and experimental groups where the device will be administered towards the

experimental group while the controlled group will be left unbothered. Aside from that,

the electricity produced by the turbine will also be measured.

Experimental Layout

The researchers will be guided by the following lay-out during the

implementation of the experiment:

Treatment Replicates
1 2
T1 (Without the device) T1R1 T1R2
T2 (With the device) T2R1 T2R2

Sources of Data

In order to test whether the hypothesis formulated by the researchers are correct,

an experiment will have to be taken. This study is subjected to the fumes emitted by

burning plastic with and without the machine made by the researchers. Two tests are to

be taken, the pre-test (without the use of machine) and the post-test (with the use of

machine). Amounts of fumes diffused in the air of both tests are to be determined by

emission testing. Electricity that is generated, on the other hand, are to be measured at
both the pre-test and the post-test. Gathered data in both tests will then be analyzed and

interpreted to arrive at a conclusion.

Data Gathering Procedure

The essential data for the study will be gathered through testing. The device,

Plastic Incinerator, will be tested in terms of its capability in filtering toxic fumes, in

generating power and electricity, in plastic wastes combustion, and in the emission of

thermal energy. Moreover, these tests were correctly proven and verified by the

accredited testing center in Daet, Camarines Norte. The additional information of the

tests will be described as follows:

Filtration Test. Filtration test will be conducted to establish the filtering capacity of the

soil.

Power Generation Test. Power generation test will be performed in order to record the

electric power in Voltage and Amperes of the plastic incinerator.

Combustion Test. Combustion test will be executed to be able to know if the device,

plastic incinerator, had good quality combustion of plastic wastes.

Thermal Test. Thermal test will be conducted to test the heat or temperature emitted

from the plastic incinerator.

Statistical Tool
 To analyze the data that will be gathered as the experimentation commences,

various statistical tools will be used. The mean will be computed from the data gathered

from the experiment divided by the total number of the replicates.

The t-test will be used to determine the degree or the significant differences of the

controlled and the experimental groups before and after the utilization of the device.

The proponents will determine the differences and the relationships of the

variables. Means, MPS and standard deviation of the pre-test and post-test of the

experimental and the controlled group will be computed, recorded and compared using

-test statistical tool. Likewise, all of the statistical tolls will be used in the study.
Notes