Theoretical Analysis of Plasma Gasification for Waste Treatment in India

Waste accumulation on land and water bodies is a global concern impeding the sustenance of human and marine lives. The waste-related data indicates that the share of non-recycled waste that are ending up in the landfill sites every year is substantial. Several incineration and gasification units exist in India. However, plasma based gasification centers are still not common in India and globally this technology has proven to be a potential solution to handle the menace of waste accumulation. The high-temperature (1000–5000 K) environment of thermal plasma is assumed to be breaking down complex waste molecules into much simpler forms which is substantiated by emission levels in producer gas much lower than the regulated environmental norms. Theoretical and experimental studies have been carried out addressing multiple aspects of the plasma-based waste gasification, such as composition of product gases post-gasification, dominant plasma characteristics and plasma-waste interaction. Such a study can provide the foundation of an analysis tool which can help planning and establishment of several plasma-based waste treatment plants across the country.