Arrange the following in increasing order of High Heat Value (HHV)

(A) Mixed paper

(B) Mixed food waste

(C) Mixed plastics

(D) Rubber

(E) Coal, bituminous

Choose the correct answer:

Correct option is C

The High Heating Value (HHV) of a fuel refers to the total amount of heat released when a fuel is burned, including the latent heat of vaporization of the water produced during combustion. Based on the general HHV values for these materials:

1. Mixed food waste has the lowest HHV, as it contains a lot of moisture and organic matter with a relatively low energy content.

2. Mixed paper comes next, with a higher HHV than mixed food waste, as paper contains carbon-based materials that provide more energy when burned, but it still has a significant moisture content.

3. Bituminous coal has a significantly higher HHV compared to organic materials like paper and food waste, thanks to its high carbon content and lower moisture levels.

4. Rubber has a higher HHV than coal, as it is composed of hydrocarbons that burn with a higher energy release.

5. Mixed plastics have the highest HHV among the listed materials, as plastics are made of hydrocarbons that are highly energy-dense.

Thus, the correct ascending order of High Heating Values (HHV) is:

(B) Mixed food waste < (A) Mixed paper < (E) Coal, bituminous < (D) Rubber < (C) Mixed plastics