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Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Strategy for Sewage Sludge Management: Influence of Process Withdrawal Point on Hydrochar Properties

Author

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  • Fabio Merzari

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Jillian Goldfarb

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Gianni Andreottola

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Tanja Mimmo

    (Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Maurizio Volpe

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
    Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Luca Fiori

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

Abstract

Conventional activated sludge systems, still widely used to treat wastewater, produce large amounts of solid waste that is commonly landfilled or incinerated. This study addresses the potential use of Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) to valorize sewage sludge residues examining the properties of hydrochars depending on HTC process conditions and sewage sludge withdrawal point. With increasing HTC severity (process residence time and temperature), solid yield, total Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and solid pH decrease while ash content increases. Hydrochars produced from primary (thickened) and secondary (digested and dewatered) sludge show peculiar distinct properties. Hydrochars produced from thickened sludge show good fuel properties in terms of Higher Heating Value (HHV) and reduced ash content. However, relatively high volatile matter and O:C and H:C ratios result in thermal reactivity significantly higher than typical coals. Both series of carbonized secondary sludges show neutral pH, low COD, enhanced phosphorous content and low heavy metals concentration: as a whole, they show properties compatible with their use as soil amendments.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Merzari & Jillian Goldfarb & Gianni Andreottola & Tanja Mimmo & Maurizio Volpe & Luca Fiori, 2020. "Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Strategy for Sewage Sludge Management: Influence of Process Withdrawal Point on Hydrochar Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2890-:d:367851
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Czerwińska, Klaudia & Śliz, Maciej & Wilk, Małgorzata, 2022. "Hydrothermal carbonization process: Fundamentals, main parameter characteristics and possible applications including an effective method of SARS-CoV-2 mitigation in sewage sludge. A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Michela Lucian & Fabio Merzari & Michele Gubert & Antonio Messineo & Maurizio Volpe, 2021. "Industrial-Scale Hydrothermal Carbonization of Agro-Industrial Digested Sludge: Filterability Enhancement and Phosphorus Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    4. Antonio Picone & Maurizio Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2021. "Process Water Recirculation during Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Current Knowledge and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Maciej Śliz & Klaudia Czerwińska & Aneta Magdziarz & Lidia Lombardi & Małgorzata Wilk, 2022. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of the Wet Fraction from Mixed Municipal Solid Waste: A Fuel and Structural Analysis of Hydrochars," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Salah Jellali & Antonis A. Zorpas & Sulaiman Alhashmi & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2022. "Recent Advances in Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-6, September.
    7. M. Toufiq Reza, 2022. "Hydrothermal Carbonization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-3, July.
    8. Roberta Ferrentino & Fabio Merzari & Luca Fiori & Gianni Andreottola, 2020. "Coupling Hydrothermal Carbonization with Anaerobic Digestion for Sewage Sludge Treatment: Influence of HTC Liquor and Hydrochar on Biomethane Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.
    9. Kossińska, Nina & Grosser, Anna & Kwapińska, Marzena & Kwapiński, Witold & Ghazal, Heba & Jouhara, Hussam & Krzyżyńska, Renata, 2024. "Co-hydrothermal carbonization as a potential method of utilising digested sludge and screenings from wastewater treatment plants towards energy application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    10. Kossińska, Nina & Krzyżyńska, Renata & Ghazal, Heba & Jouhara, Hussam, 2023. "Hydrothermal carbonisation of sewage sludge and resulting biofuels as a sustainable energy source," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).

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