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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0ACS Omega

Torrefaction-Assisted Fractionation of Material Recovery Facility Waste

  • Lily R. Callen1
  • Elliana Wagner2
  • Rhea Bar-Ziv2
  • Logan Madden2
  • George W. Huber1
  • Fei Long2
  • Ezra Bar-Ziv2
  1. 1University of Wisconsin-Madison , , , ,
  2. 2Michigan Technological University , , , ,
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Abstract

Material recovery facility (MRF) residues are heterogeneous mixtures of plastics, paper/cardboard, and mineral matter that are difficult to separate and are commonly landfilled. This study evaluated whether torrefaction-induced changes in grindability can enable size-based enrichment of plastic-, biogenic-, and mineral-rich components from MRF-derived municipal solid waste (MRF-MSW). Approximately 150 g batches were torrefied at 300–400 °C for 5–150 min, producing 0–55% mass loss, and then ground and vibro-sifted into >850, 74–850, and <74 μm fractions. Across the investigated torrefaction severities, 60–80% of the recovered ash was concentrated in the <74 μm fraction, whereas the >850 μm fraction at low mass loss had the highest higher heating value (HHV) and was enriched in plastics. Microscopy and elemental analysis revealed that the materials were concentrated into plastic, biogenic, and mineral-rich fractions. Above approximately 20% mass loss, all retained material passed the 850 μm screen. The chlorine contribution from the coarse plastic-rich fraction declined to essentially zero above approximately 25% mass loss, while most residual chlorine was associated with the mineral-rich fine fraction. These results show that torrefaction severity can be adjusted to control grindability and facilitate physical fractionation of heterogeneous MRF-MSW.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{callen2026torrefactionassisted,
  title = {{Torrefaction-Assisted Fractionation of Material Recovery Facility Waste}},
  author = {Lily R. Callen and Elliana Wagner and Rhea Bar-Ziv and Logan Madden and George W. Huber and Fei Long and Ezra Bar-Ziv},
  journal = {ACS Omega},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c07024},
  url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c07024/5462942/Torrefaction-Assisted-Fractionation-of-Material},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Torrefaction-Assisted Fractionation of Material Recovery Facility Waste
AU  - Lily R. Callen
AU  - Elliana Wagner
AU  - Rhea Bar-Ziv
AU  - Logan Madden
AU  - George W. Huber
AU  - Fei Long
AU  - Ezra Bar-Ziv
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/03
JO  - ACS Omega
DO  - 10.1021/acsomega.6c07024
UR  - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c07024/5462942/Torrefaction-Assisted-Fractionation-of-Material
AB  - Material recovery facility (MRF) residues are heterogeneous mixtures of plastics, paper/cardboard, and mineral matter that are difficult to separate and are commonly landfilled. This study evaluated whether torrefaction-induced changes in grindability can enable size-based enrichment of plastic-, biogenic-, and mineral-rich components from MRF-derived municipal solid waste (MRF-MSW). Approximately 150 g batches were torrefied at 300–400 °C for 5–150 min, producing 0–55% mass loss, and then ground and vibro-sifted into >850, 74–850, and <74 μm fractions. Across the investigated torrefaction severities, 60–80% of the recovered ash was concentrated in the <74 μm fraction, whereas the >850 μm fraction at low mass loss had the highest higher heating value (HHV) and was enriched in plastics. Microscopy and elemental analysis revealed that the materials were concentrated into plastic, biogenic, and mineral-rich fractions. Above approximately 20% mass loss, all retained material passed the 850 μm screen. The chlorine contribution from the coarse plastic-rich fraction declined to essentially zero above approximately 25% mass loss, while most residual chlorine was associated with the mineral-rich fine fraction. These results show that torrefaction severity can be adjusted to control grindability and facilitate physical fractionation of heterogeneous MRF-MSW.
SN  - 2470-1343
ER  -