IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i15p9626-d880718.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pyrolysis of Biosolids to Produce Biochars: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Samar Elkhalifa

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Hamish R. Mackey

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Tareq Al-Ansari

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Gordon McKay

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

Abstract

The continuing increase in population means an increasing demand for products and services, resulting in huge amounts of waste being discharged into the environment. Therefore, waste management requires the application of new and innovative solutions. One new approach involves converting waste into value-added chemicals and products for use directly or after further processing into higher value-added products. These processes include biological, thermochemical, and physiochemical methods. Furthermore, biosolids, including treated sewage sludge (SS), represent one of the major by-products of human activities, constituting a major environmental hazard and requiring the treatment of contaminated wastewater with associated health hazards. Sustainable solutions to manage and dispose of this type of waste are required. In this review, pyrolysis, a thermochemical conversion technology, is explored to convert biosolids to biochars. The review addresses previous studies, by providing a critical discussion on the present status of biosolids processing, the potential for energy recovery from the pyrolysis bio-oil and biogas, and finally some benefits of the production of biochars from biosolids.

Suggested Citation

  • Samar Elkhalifa & Hamish R. Mackey & Tareq Al-Ansari & Gordon McKay, 2022. "Pyrolysis of Biosolids to Produce Biochars: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9626-:d:880718
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9626/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9626/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walter R. Stahel, 2016. "The circular economy," Nature, Nature, vol. 531(7595), pages 435-438, March.
    2. Rui Boavida-Dias & João R. Silva & Andreia D. Santos & Rui C. Martins & Luis M. Castro & Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira, 2022. "A Comparison of Biosolids Production and System Efficiency between Activated Sludge, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor, and Sequencing Batch Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor in the Dairy Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Johannes Lehmann, 2007. "A handful of carbon," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7141), pages 143-144, May.
    4. Jorge Paz-Ferreiro & Aurora Nieto & Ana Méndez & Matthew Peter James Askeland & Gabriel Gascó, 2018. "Biochar from Biosolids Pyrolysis: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Aisha Al-Rumaihi & Gordon McKay & Hamish R. Mackey & Tareq Al-Ansari, 2020. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Food Waste Management Using Two Composting Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, February.
    6. Colten A. Brickler & Yudi Wu & Simeng Li & Aavudai Anandhi & Gang Chen, 2021. "Comparing Physicochemical Properties and Sorption Behaviors of Pyrolysis-Derived and Microwave-Mediated Biochar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Hong, Ziyu & Zhong, Fei & Niu, Wenjuan & Zhang, Kai & Su, Jing & Liu, Jiazheng & Li, Lijie & Wu, Fengrui, 2020. "Effects of temperature and particle size on the compositions, energy conversions and structural characteristics of pyrolysis products from different crop residues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    8. Faubert, Patrick & Barnabé, Simon & Bouchard, Sylvie & Côté, Richard & Villeneuve, Claude, 2016. "Pulp and paper mill sludge management practices: What are the challenges to assess the impacts on greenhouse gas emissions?," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 107-133.
    9. Jun-Ho Jo & Seung-Soo Kim & Jae-Wook Shim & Ye-Eun Lee & Yeong-Seok Yoo, 2017. "Pyrolysis Characteristics and Kinetics of Food Wastes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
    10. Kannan Govindan & Mia Hasanagic, 2018. "A systematic review on drivers, barriers, and practices towards circular economy: a supply chain perspective," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(1-2), pages 278-311, January.
    11. Syed-Hassan, Syed Shatir A. & Wang, Yi & Hu, Song & Su, Sheng & Xiang, Jun, 2017. "Thermochemical processing of sewage sludge to energy and fuel: Fundamentals, challenges and considerations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 888-913.
    12. Majeed Ali & Talaat Ahmed & Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh & Mohammad Al-Ghouti, 2021. "Environmental Impacts of Using Municipal Biosolids on Soil, Plant and Groundwater Qualities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-25, July.
    13. Tripathi, Manoj & Sahu, J.N. & Ganesan, P., 2016. "Effect of process parameters on production of biochar from biomass waste through pyrolysis: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 467-481.
    14. Pranshu Shrivastava & Anil Kumar & Perapong Tekasakul & Su Shiung Lam & Arkom Palamanit, 2021. "Comparative Investigation of Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil and Biochar from Pyrolysis of Woody and Non-Woody Biomasses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Ebrahem M. Eid & Kamal H. Shaltout & Saad A. M. Alamri & Sulaiman A. Alrumman & Mostafa A. Taher & Ahmed F. El-Bebany & Mohamed Hashem & Tarek M. Galal & Yasser S. Mostafa & Mohamed T. Ahmed & Nasser , 2022. "Planned Application of Sewage Sludge Recirculates Nutrients to Agricultural Soil and Improves Growth of Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-13, January.
    16. Panwar, N.L. & Kothari, Richa & Tyagi, V.V., 2012. "Thermo chemical conversion of biomass – Eco friendly energy routes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 1801-1816.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ioannis Zafeiriou & Konstantina Karadendrou & Dafni Ioannou & Maria-Anna Karadendrou & Anastasia Detsi & Dimitrios Kalderis & Ioannis Massas & Dionisios Gasparatos, 2023. "Effects of Biochars Derived from Sewage Sludge and Olive Tree Prunings on Cu Fractionation and Mobility in Vineyard Soils over Time," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Katarzyna Wystalska & Anna Kwarciak-Kozłowska & Renata Włodarczyk, 2022. "Influence of Technical Parameters of the Pyrolysis Process on the Surface Area, Porosity, and Hydrophobicity of Biochar from Sunflower Husk Pellet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Hridoy Roy & Samiha Raisa Alam & Rayhan Bin-Masud & Tonima Rahman Prantika & Md. Nahid Pervez & Md. Shahinoor Islam & Vincenzo Naddeo, 2022. "A Review on Characteristics, Techniques, and Waste-to-Energy Aspects of Municipal Solid Waste Management: Bangladesh Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Omar J. Quintero-García & Heilyn Pérez-Soler & Myriam A. Amezcua-Allieri, 2023. "Enzymatic Treatments for Biosolids: An Outlook and Recent Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Longfei Cui & Chaoyue Liu & Hui Liu & Wenke Zhao & Yaning Zhang, 2022. "Exergy Transfer Analysis of Biomass and Microwave Based on Experimental Heating Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

    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. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    2. Qin, Fanzhi & Zhang, Chen & Zeng, Guangming & Huang, Danlian & Tan, Xiaofei & Duan, Abing, 2022. "Lignocellulosic biomass carbonization for biochar production and characterization of biochar reactivity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. Graziela Darla Araujo Galvão & Steve Evans & Paulo Sergio Scoleze Ferrer & Marly Monteiro de Carvalho, 2022. "Circular business model: Breaking down barriers towards sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1504-1524, May.
    4. Sabah Mariyam & Logan Cochrane & Shifa Zuhara & Gordon McKay, 2022. "Waste Management in Qatar: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for System Strengthening," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, July.
    5. Patrick Grüning & Justina Banionienė & Lina Dagilienė & Michael Donadelli & Marcus Jüppner & Renatas Kizys & Kai Lessmann, 2021. "The Quadrilemma of a Small Open Circular Economy Through a Prism of the 9R Strategies," Bank of Lithuania Working Paper Series 96, Bank of Lithuania.
    6. Simone Marzeddu & Andrea Cappelli & Andrea Ambrosio & María Alejandra Décima & Paolo Viotti & Maria Rosaria Boni, 2021. "A Life Cycle Assessment of an Energy-Biochar Chain Involving a Gasification Plant in Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, November.
    7. Bonassa, Gabriela & Schneider, Lara Talita & Canever, Victor Bruno & Cremonez, Paulo André & Frigo, Elisandro Pires & Dieter, Jonathan & Teleken, Joel Gustavo, 2018. "Scenarios and prospects of solid biofuel use in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2365-2378.
    8. José María Martín Martín & Sara Calvo Martínez & José Manuel Guaita Martínez & Domingo Enrique Ribeiro Soriano, 2022. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Qualitative analysis on the driving force behind upcycling practices associated with mobile applications: Circular economy perspective," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 647-661, December.
    9. Kung, Chih-Chun & Mu, Jianhong E., 2019. "Prospect of China's renewable energy development from pyrolysis and biochar applications under climate change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Daniel Holzer & Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind & Michael Kriechbaum & Romana Rauter & Tobias Stern, 2023. "Different but the Same? Comparing Drivers and Barriers for Circular Economy Innovation Systems in Wood- and Plastic-Based Industries," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 983-1011, June.
    11. Govindan, Kannan, 2023. "How digitalization transforms the traditional circular economy to a smart circular economy for achieving SDGs and net zero," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    12. Aro, Joerabell Lourdes & Selerio, Egberto & Evangelista, Samantha Shane & Maturan, Fatima & Atibing, Nadine May & Ocampo, Lanndon, 2022. "Fermatean fuzzy CRITIC-CODAS-SORT for characterizing the challenges of circular public sector supply chains," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 9(C).
    13. Yang, Xiaoxia & Tian, Sicong & Kan, Tao & Zhu, Yuxiang & Xu, Honghui & Strezov, Vladimir & Nelson, Peter & Jiang, Yijiao, 2019. "Sorption-enhanced thermochemical conversion of sewage sludge to syngas with intensified carbon utilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    14. Ghinoi, Stefano & Silvestri, Francesco & Steiner, Bodo, 2020. "The role of local stakeholders in disseminating knowledge for supporting the circular economy: a network analysis approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    15. Rajat Panwar & Eva Niesten, 2020. "Advancing Circular Economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2890-2892, September.
    16. Ipek Kazancoglu & Muhittin Sagnak & Sachin Kumar Mangla & Yigit Kazancoglu, 2021. "Circular economy and the policy: A framework for improving the corporate environmental management in supply chains," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 590-608, January.
    17. Mohammed Sakib Uddin & Khaled Mahmud & Bijoy Mitra & Al-Ekram Elahee Hridoy & Syed Masiur Rahman & Md Shafiullah & Md. Shafiul Alam & Md. Ismail Hossain & Mohammad Sujauddin, 2023. "Coupling Nexus and Circular Economy to Decouple Carbon Emissions from Economic Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    18. Yuan, Xiangzhou & Wang, Junyao & Deng, Shuai & Suvarna, Manu & Wang, Xiaonan & Zhang, Wei & Hamilton, Sara Triana & Alahmed, Ammar & Jamal, Aqil & Park, Ah-Hyung Alissa & Bi, Xiaotao & Ok, Yong Sik, 2022. "Recent advancements in sustainable upcycling of solid waste into porous carbons for carbon dioxide capture," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    19. Franklin Enrique Reyes-Soriano & Juan Carlos Muyulema-Allaica & Christina Michelle Menéndez-Zaruma & Jorge Manuel Lucin-Borbor & Isabel Del Roció Balón-Ramos & Gerardo Antonio Herrera-Brunett, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis on Sustainable Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-13, October.
    20. Boyao Zhang & Ubaldo Comite & Ali Gokhan Yucel & Xintao Liu & Mohammed Arshad Khan & Shahid Husain & Muhammad Safdar Sial & József Popp & Judit Oláh, 2021. "Unleashing the Importance of TQM and Knowledge Management for Organizational Sustainability in the Age of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-18, October.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9626-:d:880718. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.