Techno-environmental feasibility of wood waste derived fuel for cement production

Turning waste-to-resources is one of the key scientific interests in recent years, especially within industrial symbiosis networks in order to reduce the waste management problem and associated environmental consequences, improve materials efficiency and conserve natural resources. Considering global concern over fossil fuel burning and CO₂ emission, engineered fuels are increasingly used in cement production. The techno-environmental feasibility of using post-consumer wood derived fuel (WDF) in practical application is rarely reported. This study comprehensively evaluated the process feasibility and environmental compliances of utilizing WDF as an alternative fuel in the co-combustion process. The results revealed that physical parameters of WDF met the required fuel standards, and the air emissions by continuous emission measurements also met the specified limits and comparable to the baseline. The stack emission parameters monitored including particulates, dioxin, mercury, cadmium and thallium, and other heavy metals were about 60%, 2%, 21%, 6% and 7% of the specified limits. In addition to significantly reducing CO₂ emission (16% for using 20% WDF as co-fuel), the characteristics, of the flue gas as monitored by continuous emission monitoring and periodic stack emission at the cement plant, and the produced clinker quality were also not affected by the use of WDF. These have demonstrated the suitability of WDF as co-fuel for cement production.