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Kim M, Choi D, Jung S, Tsang YF, Jeong S, Kim Y, Kwon EE. Sustainable Valorisation of Sewage Sludge via Carbon Dioxide-Assisted Pyrolysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124516. [PMID: 38986764 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The escalating volume of sewage sludge (SS) generated poses challenges in disposal, given its potential harm to the environment and human health. This study explored sustainable solutions for SS management with a focus on energy recovery. Employing CO2-assisted pyrolysis, we converted SS into flammable gases (H2 and CO; syngas). Single-stage pyrolysis of SS in a CO2 conditions demonstrated that CO2 enhances flammable gas production (especially CO) through gas phase reactions (GPRs) with volatile matter (VM) at temperatures ≥ 520 ˚C. Specifically, the CO2 partially oxidized the VM released from SS and concurrently underwent reduction into CO. To enhance the syngas production at temperatures ≤ 520 ˚C, multi-stage pyrolysis setup with additional heat energy and a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst were utilized. These configurations significantly increased flammable gas production, particularly CO, at temperatures ≤ 520 ˚C. Indeed, the flammable gas yield in the catalytic pyrolysis of SS increased from 200.3 mmol under N2 conditions to 219.2 mmol under CO2 conditions, representing a 4.4-fold increase compared to single-stage pyrolysis under CO2 conditions (50.0 mmol). By integrating a water-gas-shift reaction, the flammable gases produced from CO2-assisted catalytic pyrolysis were expected to have the potential to generate revenue of US$4.04 billion. These findings highlight the effectiveness of employing CO2 in SS pyrolysis as a sustainable and effective approach for treating and valorising SS into valuable energy resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyoung Kim
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongho Choi
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungyup Jung
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Yiu Fai Tsang
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Sanghyun Jeong
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Younkyoo Kim
- Division of International Studies, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Eilhann E Kwon
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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Ren XY, Cao JP, Li Y, He ZM, Zhao XY, Liu TL, Feng XB, Zhao YP, Bai HC, Zhang J, Zhao SX. Formation of Light Aromatics and Coke during Catalytic Reforming of Biopolymer-Derived Volatiles over HZSM-5. Ind Eng Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c01832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yu Ren
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing-Pei Cao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
- State Key Laboratory of High-Efficient Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
| | - Yang Li
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zi-Meng He
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tian-Long Liu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Bo Feng
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yun-Peng Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong-Cun Bai
- State Key Laboratory of High-Efficient Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shi-Xuan Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Fine Utilization of Carbon Resources, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
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Opportunities regarding the use of technologies of energy recovery from sewage sludge. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-021-04758-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Based on the global need to efficiently eliminate highly produced amounts of sewage sludge, alternative technologies are required to be practically developed. Reduction of sewage sludge waste quantities with energy recovery is the most important and modern practice, with least possible impact on the environment. Appropriate technologies for treating and disposal sewage sludge are currently considered: incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. The main products generated during the pyrolysis process are bio-gas, bio-oil and bio-residue, providing sustainable fuels/ biofuels and adsorbents. Compared to other disposal methods of sewage sludge, pyrolysis has advantages in terms of the environment: waste in small quantities, low emissions, low level of heavy metals. From a technological point of view, pyrolysis is the most efficient in relation to its final products, pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas and solid residue that can be transformed into CO2 adsorbent with the help of chemical and thermal activation processes. The incineration process of sewage sludge has a number of disadvantages both environmentally and technologically: organic pollutants, heavy metals, toxic pollutants and ash resulting from combustion that needs a disposal process. A comparison of different types of sewage sludge elimination for the energy recovery is described in the present paper.
Article Highlights
Sewage sludge is a waste in increasing quantities, which requires disposal and energy recovery, in a clean way for the environment.
The pyrolysis process of sewage sludge is the cleanest method of its recovery. Pyrolysis products, bio-oil, syngas and biochar, can be used as alternative fuels to fossil fuels.
The pyrolysis process of the sewage sludge is the most advantageous from the point of view of the obtained products and of the environment, in comparison with the incineration and gasification processes.
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Fu J, Zhang Z, Ren Q. The Future of Biomass Utilization Technologies Special Issue Editorial. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c03933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, 78 Jinhua Boulevard North, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, 78 Jinhua Boulevard North, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Qilong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, 78 Jinhua Boulevard North, Quzhou 324000, China
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