Experimental and Simulation Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Pyrolysis for Energy Recovery and Circular Waste Management

Municipal solid waste (MSW) pyrolysis is a promising route for recovering energy from non-recyclable fractions while reducing landfill volumes, yet most previous studies address waste characterization, kinetics, process simulation, and economic feasibility separately. This study integrates all four dimensions for representative MSW fractions from Guatemala City, combining laboratory-scale slow-pyrolysis experiments, Arrhenius-based kinetic modeling, industrial-scale process simulation, and a discounted-cash-flow economic evaluation, with the resulting kinetic and multivariable yield models demonstrating strong statistical performance, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.90 to 0.98 based on validation using representative municipal solid waste fractions. Plastic fractions produced the highest bio-oil yields and calorific values, approaching those of fossil fuels, while organic and lignocellulosic fractions favored biochar formation. Multivariable regression models for predicting biofuel yields and calorific values as a function of feedstock chemical composition demonstrated good predictive performance based on the validation statistics obtained. The presence of chlorine and sulfur in co-plasticized materials restricts utilization of bio-oil in combustion engines. Process Simulation has shown that integrating bio-oil refinery into the petrochemical industry is feasible. However, the economic analysis indicated that project viability depends on the successful integration of waste-treatment services with revenues generated from biofuels and energy recovery. These integrated results confirm the technical and economic viability of pyrolysis as a circular-economy waste-management strategy for Central American cities, provided the business model combines a waste-treatment-service component with energy recovery.