Two-in-One Fuel Synthetic Bioethanol-Lignin from Lignocellulose with Sewage Sludge and Its Air Pollutants Reduction Effects

Abstract

Developing effective, economical, and environmentally sound approaches for sewage sludge management remains an important global issue. In this paper, we propose a bioethanol-lignin (nonfood biomass)-based sewage sludge upgrading process for enhancing the heating value and reducing air pollutants of hybrid sewage sludge fuel (HSF) for the effective management of sewage sludge. Sewage sludge paste with the lignin-CaO solution implies drying at 105 °C accompanied by torrefaction at 250 °C. During torrefaction, moisture and partly volatile matter begin to evaporate, and are almost vaporized out to the surface. In this study, the proposed process enhances the net caloric value (NCV) to 37%. The lignin-embedded HSF shows a two-in-one combustion peak regardless of the mixing ratio, resulting in a 70% reduction of unburned carbon (UBC) emissions, which is one of the particular matter (PM) sources of combustion flue gas. Other air pollutants, such as CO, hydrocarbon, NOx, and SOx, were also reduced by the proposed process. In particular, SOx emission remained at ~1 ppm (average value) regardless of the sulfur content of the fuel.

Feasibility Assessment of a Bioethanol Plant in the Northern Netherlands

“…The depletion of fossil fuel sources, the wobbling prices of fuels, and the increased pressure regarding environmental and social aspects have increased the industrial focus towards renewable energy resources such as organic waste [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Organic residues have been considered an inexpensive, renewable, widely available, and environmentally friendly feedstock for biofuels production [10][11][12][13][14]. Currently, large quantities of biofuels are generated from first-generation resources, such as starch, corn, and sugar [15][16][17][18][19].…”

Studies on the Gasification Performance of Sludge Cake Pre-Treated by Hydrothermal Carbonization

“…Figure 1 clearly shows an increase in the facility capacity and penetration rate of sewage in Korea every year [5]. As of 2017, an average of 11,432 tons of sewage sludge is processed per day in 4072 sewage sludge treatment facilities nationwide [6]. Figure 2 illustrates current methods of disposal of sewage sludge, which includes incineration, landfill, fertilizer, fueling, recycling and others (such as ocean dumping and a failure to deal with sludge that year).…”