Utilization of expired agricultural chemicals as secondary fuel in cement kiln: a bench-scale research study

Issue Date

10-2003

Abstract

One of the problems encountered by the agricultural chemical companies located in the Philippines is the lack of disposal facility for obsolete or expired stocks, aware that accumulation of these materials can constitute a threat to human health and the environment. Because of this concern, the mother companies in developed countries are advising the local companies to use disposal options such as thermal treatment in cement kiln that is used for disposal of hazardous waste and usually available in most developing countries. Cement kiln can be a good disposal option for expired chemicals since the condition inside the kiln, like high temperature (1200 to 1400C), long residence time (6-10 seconds for gas and 20-30 minutes for solid) and air turbulence (>100,000 Reynold's number) make them appropriate for chemical destruction. In addition, agricultural chemicals can be used as secondary fuel in cement kiln, since most of these chemicals are kerosene-based. To address the problem of disposing obsolete stock and assess the material's potential as energy source, bench-scale research on thermal treatment through cement kiln was carried out in consultation with the concerned environmental regulatory agency, to determine also if this option is environmentally safe and technically feasible. The agricultural chemical used in the study had a heating value of 8,397 calories per gram (cal/g) and sulfur content of 0.25%, properties comparable to those of bunker fuel oil. When the chemical was blended with bunker fuel oil, the mixture yielded good miscibility and a heating value of 10,121 cal/g, showing the potential for use as secondary fuel. During the test runs, the kiln operating conditions and the quality of raw materials, clinker and dust were monitored and the concentration of pollutants (sulfur and nitrous oxides, total suspended particulates, aromatics and fluorides) from the stack gas emission were measured. The data generated from the study showed that clinker quality and stack gas emission satisfy the required standards.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

17

Issue

2

Page

188

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; CEMENT; FUELS; HEALTH PROTECTION; HEALTH HAZARDS; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; USES; PROCESSING

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