Withdrawn: Co-hydropyrolysis of sewage sludge and algae biomass: A systematic study on thermal decomposition behaviors and kinetic characteristics

Abstract

In the present study, a thermogravimetric analyzer was used to assess the co-hydropyrolysis kinetics of sewage sludge and algae biomass. Three isoconversional methods (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and Friedman) and one model-fitting method (DAEM) accurately fitted the experimental data at three heating rates (10, 30 and 50 °C/min) between 10 % and 90 % conversion. These methods agree with the trends shown by the activation energy (Ea) distribution calculated, with fluctuations between 120 and 330 kJ/mol. Compared with the pyrolysis of a single sample, the reaction activation energy of sludge and algae was significantly reduced in the case of co-pyrolysis. When 20 % algae are added, the activation energy is only 50 % of the original, below 100KJ/mol. Physiochemical characterization confirmed that they have the potential for fuel and energy production. Kinetic parameters fitted by DAEM were successfully verified at the highest heating rate studied and the linear fitting curve of DAEM is better. The kinetic results confirm that the activation energy is related to the conversion rate, and the change of activation energy and conversion rate indicates that the biomass undergoes a very complex pyrolysis process. In this study, the mixing of sewage sludge and algal biomass in hydrogen atmosphere can significantly change the energy required for pyrolysis reaction, which provides data support for the development, design and optimization of pyrolysis reactors. According to the change of weight loss and activation energy, it provides support for the feed amount, reaction temperature and gas flow of the pyrolysis furnace in the process of pyrolysis reaction.