Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fuel characteristics of sewage sludge using thermal treatment

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pretreatment of sewage sludge under inert condition can produce enhanced solid fuel qualities. In this study, sewage sludge was torrefied in a horizontal tubular reactor at temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 °C. Improved fuel characteristics with reduced oxidized compounds which become more like coal were depicted by the CHO index and Van Krevelen diagram. The CHO index based on molecular C, H, and O data obtained for 450 °C was − 0.65. Statistical Grindability Index (SGI) gradually decreased with the lowest value for 450 °C while the fuel ratio increased with increase in torrefaction temperature. The spontaneous combustion of sewage sludge was analyzed and the average spontaneous combustion temperature of 211.4 °C was obtained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wang G, Luo Y, Deng J, Kuang J, Zhang Y (2011) Pretreatment of biomass by torrefaction. Chin Sci Bull 56:1442–1448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Arias B, Pevida C, Fermoso J, Plaza MG, Rubiera F, Pis J (2008) Influence of torrefaction on the grindability and reactivity of woody biomass. Fuel Process Technol 89:169–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chew J, Doshi V (2011) Recent advances in biomass pretreatment–Torrefaction fundamentals and technology. Renew Sust Energy Rev 15:4212–4222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shankar Tumuluru J, Sokhansanj S, Hess JR, Wright CT, Boardman RD (2011) A review on biomass torrefaction process and product properties for energy applications. Ind Biotechnol 7:384–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Deutmeyer M, Bradley D, Hektor B, Hess R, Nikolaisen L, Tumuluru J, Wild M (2012) Possible effect of torrefaction on biomass trade. IEA Bioenergy 40

  6. Dhungana A, Dutta A, Basu P (2012) Torrefaction of non-lignocellulose biomass waste. Can J Chem Eng 90:186–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen W, Lu K, Tsai C (2012) An experimental analysis on property and structure variations of agricultural wastes undergoing torrefaction. Appl Energy 100:318–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Asadullah M, Adi AM, Suhada N, Malek NH, Saringat MI, Azdarpour A (2014) Optimization of palm kernel shell torrefaction to produce energy densified bio-coal. Energy Convers Manag 88:1086–1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Prins MJ, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen FJ (2006) Torrefaction of wood: Part 1. Weight loss kinetics. J Anal Appl Pyrol 77:28–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bridgeman T, Jones J, Shield I, Williams P (2008) Torrefaction of reed canary grass, wheat straw and willow to enhance solid fuel qualities and combustion properties. Fuel 87:844–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sadaka S, Negi S (2009) Improvements of biomass physical and thermochemical characteristics via torrefaction process. Environ Prog Sustain Energy 28:427–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sukiran MA (2008) Pyrolysis of empty oil palm fruit bunches using the quartz fluidised-fixed bed reactor, Master Thesis, University of Malaya

  13. Almeida G, Brito J, Perré P (2010) Alterations in energy properties of eucalyptus wood and bark subjected to torrefaction: the potential of mass loss as a synthetic indicator. Bioresour Technol 101:9778–9784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Chin K, H’ng P, Go W, Wong W, Lim T, Maminski M, Paridah M, Luqman A (2013) Optimization of torrefaction conditions for high energy density solid biofuel from oil palm biomass and fast growing species available in Malaysia. Ind Crops Prod 49:768–774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen W, Peng J, Bi XT (2015) A state-of-the-art review of biomass torrefaction, densification and applications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 44:847–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Williams PT, Besler S (1996) The influence of temperature and heating rate on the slow pyrolysis of biomass. Renew Energy 7:233–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bergman PC, Boersma A, Zwart R, Kiel J (2005) Torrefaction for biomass co-firing in existing coal-fired power stations. Energy Centre of Netherlands, Report No.ECN-C-05-013. Energy Research Centre of Netherlands (ECN), The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  18. Uemura Y, Omar WN, Tsutsui T, Yusup SB (2011) Torrefaction of oil palm wastes. Fuel 90:2585–2591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Poudel J, Ohm T, Lee S, Oh SC (2015) A study on torrefaction of sewage sludge to enhance solid fuel qualities. Waste Manag 40:112–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sluiter A, Hames B, Ruiz R, Scarlata C, Sluiter J, Templeton D (2004) Determination of ash in biomass: LAP-005 NREL analytical procedure. Natl Renew Energy Lab

  21. Prins MJ (2005) Thermodynamic analysis of biomass gasification and torrefaction, PhD Thesis, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  22. Judex JW, Gaiffi M, Burgbacher HC (2012) Gasification of dried sewage sludge: status of the demonstration and the pilot plant. Waste Manag 32:719–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Nachenius R, van de Wardt T, Ronsse F, Prins W (2015) Torrefaction of pine in a bench-scale screw conveyor reactor. Biomass Bioenergy 79:96–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mann BF, Chen H, Herndon EM, Chu RK, Tolic N, Portier EF, Chowdhury TR, Robinson EW, Callister SJ, Wullschleger SD (2015) Indexing permafrost soil organic matter degradation using high-resolution mass spectrometry. PLoS One 10, e0130557

  25. Cai J, He Y, Yu X, Banks SW, Yang Y, Zhang X, Yu Y, Liu R, Bridgwater AV (2017) Review of physicochemical properties and analytical characterization of lignocellulosic biomass. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 76:309–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Poudel J, Karki S, Oh S (2018) Valorization of waste wood as a solid fuel by torrefaction. Energies 11:1641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Felfli FF, Luengo CA, Suárez JA, Beatón PA (2005) Wood briquette torrefaction. Energy Sustain Dev 9:19–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bergman PCA, Boersma AR, Kiel JH, Prins MJ, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen F (2004) Torrefaction for entrained-flow gasification of biomass. Report ECN-RX-04-046. ECN, Petten

    Google Scholar 

  29. Sengupta AN (2002) An assessment of grindability index of coal. Fuel Process Technol 76:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Granados D, Basu P, Chejne F, Nhuchhen D (2016) Detailed investigation into torrefaction of wood in a two-stage inclined rotary torrefier. Energy Fuels 31:647–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Hardgrove R (1932) Grindability of coal. Trans ASME Fuels Steam Power 54:37–46

    Google Scholar 

  32. Silva M, Nebra S, Silva MM, Sanchez C (1998) The use of biomass residues in the Brazilian soluble coffee industry. Biomass Bioenerg 14:457–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Renewable Energy’s Technology Development Program (No. 20163010102160) of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy of the Korean government and the research project funded by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute, KOSHA, 339-30 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, 34122, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Joo Yeob Lee & Keun Won Lee

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kongju National University, 1223-24, Cheonan-Daero, 330-717, Seobuk, Chungnam, Republic of Korea

    Sujeeta Karki & Sea Cheon Oh

  3. Waste & Biomass Energy Technology Center, Kongju National University, 1223-24, Cheonan-Daero, 330-717, Seobuk, Chungnam, Republic of Korea

    Jeeban Poudel

Authors
  1. Joo Yeob Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sujeeta Karki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeeban Poudel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Keun Won Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sea Cheon Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sea Cheon Oh.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, J., Karki, S., Poudel, J. et al. Fuel characteristics of sewage sludge using thermal treatment. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 21, 766–773 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00830-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00830-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation