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Hydrothermal carbonization for sludge disposal in Germany: A comparative assessment for industrial‐scale scenarios in 2030

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  • Daniel Reißmann
  • Daniela Thrän
  • Dennis Blöhse
  • Alberto Bezama

Abstract

The efficient use of biogenic residues can make a significant contribution to increase resource efficiency. Due to its high energy efficiency, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is being discussed as a potentially suitable technology for particularly wet and sludgy biogenic residues. In Germany, however, it has not yet been established at industrial continuous operation. Among others, this is due to missing solutions for the economic treatment of the high organic loads in the liquid by‐product and insufficient knowledge on long‐term processing. Nevertheless, it is still expected that HTC could be able to contribute in the future, especially for sewage sludge disposal. Whether and under what conditions this could be the case is the subject of this study. The competitiveness of modeled cases for industrial sewage sludge HTC, which address different future paths, compared to thermal sludge treatment is investigated by using a multi‐criteria instrument. Results show that HTC can only compete with the reference technology if certain framework conditions are given. Particularly, an efficient phosphorus recycling should be integrated and the production costs of the solid product should be at least less than €325 per metric ton according to this case study. The treatment performance of the liquid phase should be as high as possible whereby costs for further treatment equipment should be minimized, so that mentioned productions costs are not exceeded. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Reißmann & Daniela Thrän & Dennis Blöhse & Alberto Bezama, 2021. "Hydrothermal carbonization for sludge disposal in Germany: A comparative assessment for industrial‐scale scenarios in 2030," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(3), pages 720-734, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:25:y:2021:i:3:p:720-734
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathleen Meisel & Andreas Clemens & Christoph Fühner & Marc Breulmann & Stefan Majer & Daniela Thrän, 2019. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of HTC Concepts Valorizing Sewage Sludge for Energetic and Agricultural Use," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, February.
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    3. Wang, Tengfei & Zhai, Yunbo & Zhu, Yun & Li, Caiting & Zeng, Guangming, 2018. "A review of the hydrothermal carbonization of biomass waste for hydrochar formation: Process conditions, fundamentals, and physicochemical properties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 223-247.
    4. Saaty, Thomas L., 1990. "How to make a decision: The analytic hierarchy process," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 9-26, September.
    5. Jakob Medick & Isabel Teichmann & Claudia Kemfert, 2017. "Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Green Waste: An Environmental and Economic Assessment of HTC Coal in the Metropolitan Region of Berlin, Germany," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1690, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Wang, Liping & Chang, Yuzhi & Li, Aimin, 2019. "Hydrothermal carbonization for energy-efficient processing of sewage sludge: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 423-440.
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