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Recovery of Cellulose, Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Microplastics from Sewage Sludge: A Review

Author

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  • Ewa Wiśniowska

    (Department of Sanitart Installationa and Networks, Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, 69 Dabrowskiego Str., 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland)

  • Mariusz Kowalczyk

    (Department of Sanitart Installationa and Networks, Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, 69 Dabrowskiego Str., 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland)

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants are considered to be not only as treatment facilities, but also essential elements of the circular economy. Wastewater treatment plants can be essential chains of the circular economy cycle. Despite this, sewage sludge management and utilization are mostly limited to biodegradation and further agricultural uses or incineration. The recovery of valuable products is mainly limited to nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Fewer analyses focus on generating, recovering, and removing various polymers from sewage sludge, such as cellulose or extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). On the other hand, sewage sludge also contains polymeric pollutants, such as microplastics. The recovery and use of biopolymers is significant considering the problems connected with the presence and effects of artificial polymers (microplastics) in the environment. Despite the technical possibilities, not many technical scale installations are operated. Law regulations should make some incentives to develop the technologies and sell the recovered polymers in the market not as waste material, but as a valuable product. This paper presents state-of-the-art technologies for selected polymers’ recovery from sludge, including technical parameters of the processes and possible applications of recovered products, but it also considers the possibility of microplastics’ removal from this waste material.

Suggested Citation

  • Ewa Wiśniowska & Mariusz Kowalczyk, 2022. "Recovery of Cellulose, Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Microplastics from Sewage Sludge: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:20:p:7744-:d:947519
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ksymena Rosiek, 2020. "Directions and Challenges in the Management of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Poland in the Context of the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, May.
    2. Lei Huang & Yinie Jin & Danheng Zhou & Linxin Liu & Shikun Huang & Yaqi Zhao & Yucheng Chen, 2022. "A Review of the Role of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) in Wastewater Treatment Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marzena Smol, 2023. "Circular Economy in Wastewater Treatment Plant—Water, Energy and Raw Materials Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Denisa Djordjevićová & Marco Carnevale Miino & Jakub Raček & Petr Hlavínek & Tomáš Chorazy & Vladana Rajaković-Ognjanović & Nada Cvijetić, 2023. "Influence of Cellulose on the Anoxic Treatment of Domestic Wastewater in Septic Tanks: Statistical Analysis of the Chemical and Physico-Chemical Parameters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.

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