Thermogravimetric combustion kinetics of petroleum effluent treatment plant sludge

Summary

This communication reports the thermal characteristics of an oil field effluent treatment plant (ETP) sludge and organic materials separated from it (SOM) as investigated by thermogravimetric (TG) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods. The calorific value of the sludge is approximately 4000 Kcal kg<Superscript>-1</Superscript> and the fuel value of the sludge may be utilized in production of various materials. Analysis and evaluation of kinetic parameters in the 100-600&deg;C region of non-isothermal TG curves obtained in air atmosphere and also analysis of IR spectra of the decomposed products reveal considerable effect of inorganic materials present in the sludge on the thermal decomposition of organic materials. A simple kinetic model has been proposed to describe the thermal behaviours of the sludge and its organic materials.