Physical characteristics of the raw MSW and the hydrothermally
treated products were analyzed based on the Japanese Ministry
of Health and Welfare No. 95/1977, ‘‘Points of Concern for the
Guidance to Municipal Waste Processing Business.’’ The hydrothermally
treated products were thoroughly mixed before the analysis
to ensure reproducibility. Moisture contents were obtained by drying
the crushed samples in a constant-temperature oven at 105 C,
and the ash contents were obtained by inserting the samples into a
constant-temperature oven maintained at 550 C. The mass of the
combustible contents were obtained from the difference between
mass of the dried samples and their ash weight.