Simulation of the Biofuel Production Process from Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW)

Abstract
The primary management of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) was commonly composting, landfill or incineration, while now the anaerobic digestion of OFMSW offers the possibility of a clean and renewable energy source. This work presents the modelling and simulation of an OFMSW biorefinery to produce biogas, fertiliser and bioethanol. The conceptual design of the biorefinery begins with an anaerobic digestion to degrade OFMSW and produce biogas. The resulting solid fibres and the effluent are sent to the subsequent stages to produce fertiliser from the solid waste and anhydrous bioethanol from the fermentation broth. The process simulations are based on an anaerobic biorefinery capable to treat 1,000 tonnes per day of OFMSW generated in CDMX. The main results show the yields are 73 kg ethanol, 54 kg biogas and 59 kg fertiliser per tonne of dry waste.