Novel medical waste to power and hydrogen system with high-efficiency and zero-emission based on nitrogen plasma gasification: a techno-economic analysis

This study proposes a novel medical waste treatment system based on nitrogen plasma gasification, which achieves not only harmless disposal of medical waste but also achieves the co-production of energy (electricity) and substances (hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide capture and sequestration). The system integrates solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), chemical looping combustion (CLC), gas turbines (GT), and steam turbines (ST) for efficient power generation, produces hydrogen through water-gas shift reactions, and employs pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology for carbon dioxide capture. This paper explores the potential of plasma gasification technology in medical waste treatment and energy recovery and assesses its economic feasibility. The results indicate that the system has a significant advantage in energy conversion efficiency and a short payback period on investment, providing a sustainable solution for the resourceful utilization of medical waste and promoting nitrogen plasma technology as a viable waste-to-energy conversion technology.