Abstract

Sewage sludge (SS) is a by-product of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operation. Due to fast rates of urbanization and industrialization, and rapid population growth, the world community faces a serious challenge associated with its disposal. There is an urgent need to explore low cost, energy efficient, and sustainable solutions for the treatment, management, and future utilization of SS. Thermal conversion of SS is considered the most promising alternative for sustainable SS management. Among three main thermochemical processes, it seems that gasification (GAS) of SS has the most advantages. The aim of this paper is a presentation of the gasification process as a sustainable method of SS management that takes into account the idea of a circular economy (CE). Gaseous fuel production, phosphorus recovery potential, and solid adsorbent production during the gasification process are analyzed and discussed. Result of this study shows that the lower heating value (LHV) of the gas from SS GAS process is up to 5 MJ/m3n and it can be effectively utilize in an internal combustion engines. The analysis proved that solid fraction after the SS GAS process can be treated as a valuable phosphorus source and perspective adsorbent materials. The amount of P2O5 in this material was equal to 22.06%. It is similar to natural phosphate rocks (28.05%). The maximum of the adsorption capacity of the phenol was comparable with commercial activated carbon (CAC): 42.22 mg/g for solid fraction after SS GAS and 49.72 mg/g for CAC.Graphical abstract

Highlights

  • In 2016, almost 80% of world’s final consumption of the energy is still provided by fossil fuel utilization

  • The LHVof gasification gas is comparable with the lower heating value (LHV) of blast furnace gas

  • The LHV is much lower in comparison to popular gaseous fuel, like methane

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Summary

Introduction

In 2016, almost 80% of world’s final consumption of the energy is still provided by fossil fuel utilization. Though, this is continuously being diminished by the rising growth rate in modern renewables. With continuous economic and Responsible editor: Ta Yeong Wu. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2019) 26:35422–35432 rising solid waste generation prompted by rising wealth and population dynamics will increase pressure on current waste management (WM) systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2019) 26:35422–35432 rising solid waste generation prompted by rising wealth and population dynamics will increase pressure on current waste management (WM) systems This will result in significant socioeconomic, environmental, technological, and geopolitical implications globally. In the European Union (EU), the SS problem is being tackled by the general Directives, indicators, and national legislative requirements

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