Leave Waste Management through Refuse Derived Fuel-5 (RDF-5) Process in Thung Khlong Community, Kham Muang District, Kalasin Provice

Abstract

This experimental study aimed to conduct a feasibility study of wood waste management with refuse-derived fuel (RDF-5) by using 2 types of binder, cassava starch, and rubber latex. Grinding leaves mix with cassava starch and rubber latex were used as a binder to produce RDF briquettes with 5 ratios 1:1, 1: 1.1, 1: 1.2, 1: 1.3 and 1:1.4 (kg/L). The briquettes were made with the help of a uniaxial piston making machine. The fuel properties were studied according to ASTM standards (Aviation Fuels: Specifications and Test Methods). The experiment was conducted between November 2017 and February 2018. The result showed that the ratio of leaf blends with cassava starch as a binder at 1: 1.4 (kg/L) provided highest net calorific value at 4,275.40 calories/grams of fuel with a flammability limit average of 26.55 minutes. It resulted in debris reduction of 94.32 gram leaves/fuel rods. Rubber latex adhesives and rubber latex was found to be a better binder at 1: 1.4 average calorific value at 6,100.29 calories/ grams of fuel with a flammability limit average of 34.7 minutes. It resulted in debris reduction of 61.47 gram leaves/fuel rods. When testing the suitability of fuel from leave waste to replace wood, the RDF with cassava starch as the binder had flammability limit of 1.03 minutes, average smoke generation of 5.13 minutes and average duration odor emission of 6.01 minutes, whereas the RDF with rubber latex as a binder had higher odor emission and pollution. It can be concluded that the leaf waste management with refuse-derived fuel (RDF-5) using cassava starch as a binder ratio of 1:1.4 is the most suitable waste management method with a benefit of energy supply in the community.