Car fluff disposal: atmospheric effluent analysis in a full scale experiments of thermo-valorization process

Until now, the majority of automobile shredder residue (ASR or fluff) has been disposed of in controlled landfill sites. In Europe the ELV Directive is beginning to put significant pressure on all stakeholders to develop specific solutions. However, there are several other drivers which, pushing in different directions, result in no unity of vision. In addition to the complex and changing drivers, the ASR waste stream itself is so variable that it cannot be automatically assumed that processes developed for one typology of ASR are suitable for the other similar waste streams. This scenario has contributed to the stakeholders withholding investment funds or making decisions on specific ways forward and, as a consequence, few attempts were seriously undertaken to develop new and sustainable technologies. The main objective of the present research work was to evaluate both the process performance and characteristics of the products obtained from the thermal treatment of automobile shredder residue using a full scale plant initially designed for tyres thermo-valorization, but appositively modified in order to also treat fluff. Energy recovery, mass reduction, combustion emissions and residues, were measured during tests operating under different ASR composition.