Sewage Sludge Carbonization: A Future for the Disposal of Sewage Sludge

Description: The high-temperature heating of biomass, in a limited oxygen environment is called pyrolytic carbonization. In this process, organic carbon compounds are converted into a process gas and solid elemental carbon. While organic carbon compounds are degradable and natural decomposition releases greenhouse gases such as CO2 or methane into the atmosphere, elemental carbon is stable for thousands of years. As long as this carbon is not burned, it does not react with any element and remains in its stable form as C, within a material called biochar. Thus, it can be considered a permanent carbon sink, when the biochar is applied to the soil. Characteristics of the carbonization process: - A temperature and a process duration, high and long enough, respectively, to remove critical compounds such as PFAS. - The retention of important nutrients such as phosphorus. - The ability to retain carbon contained in the feedstock, within the resulting biochar, thus providing a stable carbon sink ïƒ Biochar Carbon Removal. The recovery of phosphorus in wastewater treatment closes nutrient cycles and ensures independence from raw material imports that pollute the environment. What sounds like a financial burden for local authorities is in reality, a revenue opportunity. The recycling process not only produces a natural fertilizer, it also provides renewable energy and generates CO2 certificates!

Keywords: Sewage Sludge CarbonizationDisposal of Sewage SludgePFAS
References:

• US EPA
• EBI
• PYREG Project installations at WWTP