Graphene Derived from Municipal Solid Waste

Landfilling has long been the most common method of disposal for municipal solid waste (MSW). However, many countries seek to implement different methods of MSW treatment due to the high global warming potential associated with landfilling. Other methods such as recycling and incineration are either limited to only a fraction of generated MSW or still produce large greenhouse gas emissions, thereby providing an unsustainable disposal method. Here, we report the production of graphene from treated MSW, which includes treated wood waste, using flash Joule heating. Results indicate an 81-89% reduction in global warming potential compared to traditional disposal methods at a net cost of -$304 per tonne of MSW, presuming the graphene is sold at just 5% of its current market value to offset the cost of the flash Joule heating process.