From: Biomass waste-to-energy valorisation technologies: a review case for banana processing in Uganda
Technology | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Anaerobic digestion | Energy recovery with the production of high grade soil conditioner | Unsuitable for wastes containing less organic matter |
 | No power requirement for sieving and turning of waste pile | Requires waste segregation for improving digestion efficiency |
 | Enclosed system enables trapping the gas produced for use |  |
 | Controls GHG emissions |  |
 | Free from bad odour, rodent and fly menace, visible pollution and social resistance |  |
 | Compact design needs less land area |  |
 | Net positive environmental gains |  |
 | Can be done in small scale |  |
Landfill with gas recovery | Least cost option | Surface runoff during rainfall causes pollution |
 | Gas produced can be utilised for power generation or direct thermal application | Soil and groundwater may get polluted by the leachate |
 | Skilled personnel not required | Yields only 30–40% of the total gas generated |
 | Natural resources are returned to the soil and recycled | Large land area required |
 | Can convert marshy lands to useful areas | Significant transportation costs |
 |  | Cost of pre-treatment to upgrade the gas to pipeline quality and leachate treatment may be significant |
 |  | Spontaneous explosion due to methane gas buildup |
Incineration | Most suitable for high calorific value waste | Least suited for aqueous, high moisture content, low calorific value and chlorinated waste |
 | Units with high throughput and continuous feed can be set up | Toxic metal concentration in ash, particulate emissions, SOx, NOx, chlorinated compounds, ranging from HCL to dioxins |
 | Thermal energy for power generation or direct heating | High capital and O&M costs |
 | Relatively noiseless and odourless | Skilled personnel required |
 | Low lands are required |  |
 | Can be located within city limits, reducing transportation costs |  |
 | Hygienic |  |
Pyrolysis/Gasification | Production of fuel gas/oil, which can be used for various purpose | Net energy recovery may suffer in waste with excessive moisture |
 | Control of pollution superior as compared to incineration | High viscosity of pyrolysis oil may be problematic for its burning and transportation |