IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v362y2024ics0306261924004173.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A new integrated approach for NOx removal by absorption and anaerobic digestion of wasted activated sludge

Author

Listed:
  • Zhu, Zihan
  • Zhou, Tao
  • Qin, Haotian
  • Zhao, Youcai
  • Xu, Bin

Abstract

Urban waste treatment and utilization are facing mounting demands, necessitating cities to evolve their infrastructure towards more efficient, affordable, and sustainable solutions. Achieving sustainable waste management in urban ecosystems is an intricate endeavor that spans multiple disciplines. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) from waste combustion and sludge from wastewater plant exemplify challenging urban secondary wastes with both environmental and energy implications. This study introduces a novel method for NOx removal, harnessing an integrated system of absorption and biological reduction through waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic digestion. Findings reveal that microbial adsorption amplified NO removal efficiency by an impressive 125.8%. A significant correlation emerged between pH, temperature, and NOx removal efficiency, with greatest removal (78.9%) occurring at pH 6.5 and 30 °C. On the other hand, concentrations of NOx and O2 exerted little influence on NOx removal. The presence of SO2 significantly enhanced the NOx removal efficiency, suggesting potential for concurrent SO2 and NOx extraction. The NOx removal mechanism was elucidated as a two-step reaction pathway comprising NOx absorption and subsequent conversion. This process integrates both the chemical absorption of NOx and microbial denitrification. Concurrently, nitrite accumulation was found to boost the hydrolysis rate and the methanogenic potential of anaerobic digestion. This innovative NOx removal strategy, which is devoid of chemicals, produces no secondary waste, and facilitates energy recovery, holds substantial promise for future applications in urban waste-to-energy initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Zihan & Zhou, Tao & Qin, Haotian & Zhao, Youcai & Xu, Bin, 2024. "A new integrated approach for NOx removal by absorption and anaerobic digestion of wasted activated sludge," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:362:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924004173
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123034
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924004173
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123034?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zheng, Chenghang & Xu, Changri & Zhang, Yongxin & Zhang, Jun & Gao, Xiang & Luo, Zhongyang & Cen, Kefa, 2014. "Nitrogen oxide absorption and nitrite/nitrate formation in limestone slurry for WFGD system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 187-194.
    2. Rao, M. S. & Singh, S. P. & Singh, A. K. & Sodha, M. S., 2000. "Bioenergy conversion studies of the organic fraction of MSW: assessment of ultimate bioenergy production potential of municipal garbage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 75-87, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Grima-Olmedo, C. & Ramírez-Gómez, Á. & Alcalde-Cartagena, R., 2014. "Energetic performance of landfill and digester biogas in a domestic cooker," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 301-308.
    2. Baena-Moreno, Francisco M. & Sebastia-Saez, Daniel & Pastor-Pérez, Laura & Reina, Tomas Ramirez, 2021. "Analysis of the potential for biogas upgrading to syngas via catalytic reforming in the United Kingdom," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Chandra, R. & Vijay, V.K. & Subbarao, P.M.V. & Khura, T.K., 2012. "Production of methane from anaerobic digestion of jatropha and pongamia oil cakes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 148-159.
    4. Si, Tong & Wang, Chunbo & Yan, Xuenan & Zhang, Yue & Ren, Yujie & Hu, Jian & Anthony, Edward J., 2019. "Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx by a new combined spray-and-scattered-bubble technology based on preozonation: From lab scale to pilot scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1528-1538.
    5. Mohammadi, Ali & Omid, Mahmoud, 2010. "Economical analysis and relation between energy inputs and yield of greenhouse cucumber production in Iran," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 191-196, January.
    6. Shah, A.T. & Favaro, L. & Alibardi, L. & Cagnin, L. & Sandon, A. & Cossu, R. & Casella, S. & Basaglia, M., 2016. "Bacillus sp. strains to produce bio-hydrogen from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 116-124.
    7. Elsamadony, M. & Tawfik, A. & Suzuki, M., 2015. "Surfactant-enhanced biohydrogen production from organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) via dry anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 272-282.
    8. Ferreira, L.R.A. & Otto, R.B. & Silva, F.P. & De Souza, S.N.M. & De Souza, S.S. & Ando Junior, O.H., 2018. "Review of the energy potential of the residual biomass for the distributed generation in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 440-455.
    9. Halder, P.K. & Paul, N. & Joardder, M.U.H. & Khan, M.Z.H. & Sarker, M., 2016. "Feasibility analysis of implementing anaerobic digestion as a potential energy source in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 124-134.
    10. Di Maria, Francesco & Sisani, Federico & Contini, Stefano, 2018. "Are EU waste-to-energy technologies effective for exploiting the energy in bio-waste?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1557-1572.
    11. Tafannum Torsha & Catherine N. Mulligan, 2024. "Anaerobic Treatment of Food Waste with Biogas Recirculation under Psychrophilic Temperature," Waste, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-14, January.
    12. Dehkordi, Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Noorbakhsh & Jahromi, Ahmad Reza Taghipour & Ferdowsi, Ali & Shumal, Mohammad & Dehnavi, Ali, 2020. "Investigation of biogas production potential from mechanical separated municipal solid waste as an approach for developing countries (case study: Isfahan-Iran)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    13. Roberts, Keiron P. & Heaven, Sonia & Banks, Charles J., 2016. "Comparative testing of energy yields from micro-algal biomass cultures processed via anaerobic digestion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 744-753.
    14. Anriansyah Renggaman & Hong Lim Choi & Sartika Indah Amalia Sudiarto & Andi Febrisiantosa & Dong Hyoen Ahn & Yong Wook Choung & Arumuganainar Suresh, 2021. "Biochemical Methane Potential of Swine Slaughter Waste, Swine Slurry, and Its Codigestion Effect," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Masala, Fabiana & Groppi, Daniele & Nastasi, Benedetto & Piras, Giuseppe & Astiaso Garcia, Davide, 2022. "Techno-economic analysis of biogas production and use scenarios in a small island energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    16. Shane, Agabu & Gheewala, Shabbir H. & Fungtammasan, Bundit & Silalertruksa, Thapat & Bonnet, Sébastien & Phiri, Seveliano, 2016. "Bioenergy resource assessment for Zambia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 93-104.
    17. Sorgüven, Esra & Özilgen, Mustafa, 2012. "Energy utilization, carbon dioxide emission, and exergy loss in flavored yogurt production process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 214-225.
    18. Zhang, Wanqin & Wei, Quanyuan & Wu, Shubiao & Qi, Dandan & Li, Wei & Zuo, Zhuang & Dong, Renjie, 2014. "Batch anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure with dewatered sewage sludge under mesophilic conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 175-183.
    19. Di Maria, Francesco & Sordi, Alessio & Micale, Caterina, 2012. "Optimization of Solid State Anaerobic Digestion by inoculum recirculation: The case of an existing Mechanical Biological Treatment plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 462-469.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:362:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924004173. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.