Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is the most widespread thermal analytical technique applied to waste materials. By way of critical review, we establish a theoretical framework for the use of TGA under non-isothermal conditions for compositional analysis of waste-derived fuels from municipal solid waste (MSW) (solid recovered fuel (SRF), or refuse-derived fuel (RDF)). Thermal behaviour of SRF/RDF is described as a complex mixture of several components at multiple levels (including an assembly of prevalent waste items, materials, and chemical compounds); and, operating conditions applied to TGA experiments of SRF/RDF are summarised. SRF/RDF mainly contains cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Polyvinyl chloride is also used in simulated samples, for its high chlorine content. We discuss the main limitations for TGA-based compositional analysis of SRF/RDF, due to inherently heterogeneous composition of MSW at multiple levels, overlapping degradation areas, and potential interaction effects among waste components and cross-contamination. Optimal generic TGA settings are highlighted (inert atmosphere and low heating rate (⩽10°C), sufficient temperature range for material degradation (⩾750°C), and representative amount of test portion). There is high potential to develop TGA-based composition identification and wider quality assurance and control methods using advanced thermo-analytical techniques (e.g. TGA with evolved gas analysis), coupled with statistical data analytics.

热重分析（TGA）是应用于废料的最广泛的热分析技术。通过批判性审查，我们建立了在非等温条件下使用TGA的理论框架城市固体废物（MSW）（固体回收燃料（SRF）或垃圾衍生燃料（RDF））中废物衍生燃料成分分析的条件。SRF / RDF的热行为被描述为多种成分在多个层面上的复杂混合物（包括常见废物，材料和化合物的组装）；总结了应用于SRF / RDF的TGA实验的操作条件。SRF / RDF主要包含纤维素，半纤维素，木质素，聚乙烯，聚丙烯和聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯。由于氯含量高，聚氯乙烯也用于模拟样品中。我们讨论了基于TGA的SRF / RDF成分分析的主要局限性，这是由于MSW在多个级别上固有地异质组成，重叠的降解区域，以及废物成分和交叉污染之间的潜在相互作用。突出显示了最佳的通用TGA设置（惰性气氛和较低的加热速率（⩽10°C），足够的温度范围以进行材料降解（⩾750°C），以及代表性的测试量）。利用先进的热分析技术（例如，带有析出气体分析的TGA）以及统计数据分析，可以开发出基于TGA的成分识别技术以及更广泛的质量保证和控制方法。