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Properties and Beneficial Uses of (Bio)Chars, with Special Attention to Products from Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis

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  • Arianna Callegari

    (Department of Civil Engineering & Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Andrea Giuseppe Capodaglio

    (Department of Civil Engineering & Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

Abstract

Residual sludge disposal costs may constitute up to, and sometimes above, 50% of the total cost of operation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and contribute approximately 40% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with its operation. Traditionally, wastewater sludges are processed for: (a) reduction of total weight and volume to facilitate their transfer and subsequent treatments; (b) stabilization of contained organic material and destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, elimination of noxious odors, and reduction of putrefaction potential and, at an increasing degree; (c) value addition by developing economically viable recovery of energy and residual constituents. Among several other processes, pyrolysis of sludge biomass is being experimented with by some researchers. From the process, oil with composition not dissimilar to that of biodiesels, syngas, and a solid residue can be obtained. While the advantage of obtaining sludge-derived liquid and gaseous fuels is obvious to most, the solid residue from the process, or char (also indicated as biochar by many), may also have several useful, initially unexpected applications. Recently, the char fraction is getting attention from the scientific community due to its potential to improve agricultural soils’ productivity, remediate contaminated soils, and supposed, possible mitigation effects on climate change. This paper first discusses sludge-pyrolysis-derived char production fundamentals (including relationships between char, bio-oil, and syngas fractions in different process operating conditions, general char properties, and possible beneficial uses). Then, based on current authors’ experiments with microwave-assisted sludge pyrolysis aimed at maximization of liquid fuel extraction, evaluate specific produced char characteristics and production to define its properties and most appropriate beneficial use applications in this type of setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Arianna Callegari & Andrea Giuseppe Capodaglio, 2018. "Properties and Beneficial Uses of (Bio)Chars, with Special Attention to Products from Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis," Resources, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:7:y:2018:i:1:p:20-:d:136168
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrea G. Capodaglio & Arianna Callegari & Maria Virginia Lopez, 2016. "European Framework for the Diffusion of Biogas Uses: Emerging Technologies, Acceptance, Incentive Strategies, and Institutional-Regulatory Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Ahn, Seong Yool & Eom, Seong Yong & Rhie, Young Hoon & Sung, Yon Mo & Moon, Cheor Eon & Choi, Gyung Min & Kim, Duck Jool, 2013. "Utilization of wood biomass char in a direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 207-216.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohamed, Badr A. & O'Boyle, Marnie & Li, Loretta Y., 2023. "Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge with lignocellulosic and algal biomass for sustainable liquid and gaseous fuel production: A life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    2. Mohammad Ghorbani & Petr Konvalina & Anna Walkiewicz & Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner & Marek Kopecký & Kazem Zamanian & Wei-Hsin Chen & Daniel Bucur, 2022. "Feasibility of Biochar Derived from Sewage Sludge to Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Mitigate GHG Emissions—A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Liping Li & Guiyue Du & Beibei Yan & Yuan Wang & Yingxin Zhao & Jianming Su & Hongyi Li & Yanfeng Du & Yunan Sun & Guanyi Chen & Wanqing Li & Thomas Helmer Pedersen, 2023. "Carbon Footprint Analysis of Sewage Sludge Thermochemical Conversion Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Raziye Kul & Ertan Yıldırım & Melek Ekinci & Metin Turan & Sezai Ercisli, 2022. "Effect of Biochar and Process Water Derived from the Co-Processed Sewage Sludge and Food Waste on Garden Cress’ Growth and Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.

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