VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE-DERIVED CARBONIZED FUELS: ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, MITIGATION APPROACHES, AND POLICY CHALLENGES

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Mariam Mir Memon, Muhammad Shoaib, Mohammad Siddique, Jaffar Hussain, Abrar Ahmad, Abdul Ahad, Suleman Ahmed, Behram Ali, Muhammad Hamza Arif
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2026.01.11

Municipal solid waste (MSW) creation is a major issue for the international population, which is predicted to surpass 10 billion individuals by 2058 after surpassing 6 billion in 2021. Waste-to-energy is one way to manage MSW. This includes using thermochemical techniques to turn MSW into carbonised solid fuel (CSF). Concerns have been raised, meanwhile, about the leakage of organic compounds that are volatile from CSF during usage and storage. Such discharges may pose risks to the environment and human health, even though the subject is still not well understood. This article critically evaluates the VOC generation from waste-derived CSF, especially carbonised refuse-derived fuel. It focuses on research gaps, differences in VOC measurement methods, and regulatory concerns. Unlike previous studies that primarily examine process emissions, this study focuses on the expulsion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) throughout storage and handling. To shed light on mitigation techniques for reducing VOC releases during handling and storage, a system for integrating process-condition modelling and post-production release evaluation was put forth. Our results point to important research needs in long-term exposure risks, predictive modelling, and VOC characterization. The management of waste-derived solid fuels requires more stringent regulatory control and standardized procedures, as this review highlights.