Paper Mill Sludge Research Articles

Experimental study on the combustion behavior and NOx emission during the co-combustion of combustible industrial solid wastes

The combustible industrial solid wastes (CISW) include waste of textiles, paper, woody products, sludge and so on, generated from light industrial production. Excessive CISW can cause serious environmental pollution if not treated effectively. Incineration has become an efficient method for the disposal of CISWs due to its merits in rapid reduction and energy recovery. However, the incineration plants have often suffered from unstable combustion and serious air pollutant emissions due to the mismatch in the properties between the practical CISW blend and the designed target fuel. To achieve compatible CISW blends for the plant, the fundamental understanding of the combustion behavior and pollutant emission characteristics of individual CISWs and their designated blends during combustion is highly necessary. In this work, the combustion behavior of five CISWs has been studied on a thermogravimetric analyzer and the corresponding comprehensive combustion indexes (CCI) have been analyzed. Meanwhile, NOx emission during the combustion of individual or blended CISWs has been studied. It has been revealed that adding fungi or waste tires to paper mill sludge can effectively increase the CCI of blended fuels and reduce NOx emission. A linear correlation has been established between the conversion ratio of fuel-N to NOx and fuel components. The synergetic effect generated from the proper blending among different CISWs has been observed and quantitatively analyzed. Such an effect played a significant role in inhibiting NOx generation during the co-combustion of different CISWs caused by the reduction of porous char with high activity and several inorganic minerals. This study provides a theoretical basis for seeking a way of the suitable fuel blends.

Sustainable value methodology to compare the performance of conversion technologies for the production of electricity and heat, energy vectors and biofuels from waste biomass

The Sustainable Value methodology was used to compare and rank eight combinations of waste biomass types and conversion technologies on a common assessment basis to produce energy, energy vectors and advanced biofuels. The studied combinations included agricultural and agro-industrial residues, slurries and effluents, pulp and paper mill sludge, piggery effluents and organic fractions of municipal solid waste, to produce biodiesel by (trans)esterification, biogas by anaerobic digestion, ethanol by fermentation, hydrogen by dark fermentation, electricity and heat by combustion, biogas and synthesis gas by gasification, and bio-oils by pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction. The numerator “Functional Performance” of the Sustainable Value indicator was estimated according to 14 criteria of process technology, material and energy inputs and outputs, and acceptance by the stakeholders. The performance of the technologies was classified based on the values of relative importance (φ) and level of satisfaction ( S ) attributed to each criterion. The gasification of residues from the olive-oil industry reached the highest “Functional Performance”, followed by anaerobic digestion of chestnut processing residues and pig-rearing effluents. The Sustainable Value denominator “Costs” depended mainly on the degree of maturity of the technologies, which penalised pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and dark fermentation. The final ranking of the Sustainable Value indicator was gasification > combustion > anaerobic digestion > (trans)esterification > pyrolysis and fermentation to ethanol > hydrothermal liquefaction > dark fermentation, respectively for the most adequate waste biomass types under study. Thermochemical conversions were mainly impacted by process and input criteria, while output and social acceptance criteria were more decisive for the biochemical conversions. • Sustainable Value (SV) analysis applies to waste biomass-to-energy (WBtoE) conversion • SV indicator enables the ranking of bio- and thermochemical WBtoE technologies • Costs uncertainty of low-maturity WBtoE technologies negatively impacts the SV score • Gasification of olive-oil industrial residues delivers the highest SV score of 4.09 • Biogas production by codigestion can further increase the SV score to 6.76

Techno-Economic Analysis of Fluidized Bed Combustion of a Mixed Fuel from Sewage and Paper Mill Sludge

The treatment and disposal of sewage sludge is one of the most important and critical issues of wastewater treatment plants. One option for sludge liquidation is the production of fuel in the form of pellets from mixed sewage and paper mill sludge. This study presents the results of the combustion of pelletized fuels, namely sewage and paper mill sludge, and their 2:1 and 4:1 blends in a fluidized bed combustor. The flue gas was analysed after reaching a steady state at bed temperatures of 700–800 °C. Commonly used flue gas cleaning is still necessary, especially for SO2; therefore, it is worth mentioning that the addition of paper mill sludge reduced the mercury concentration in the flue gas to limits acceptable in most EU countries. The analysis of ash after combustion showed that magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead remained mostly in the ash after combustion, while all cadmium from all fuels used was transferred into the flue gas together with a substantial part of chlorine and mercury. The pellets containing both sewage and paper mill sludge can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel for fluidised bed combustion. The levelized cost of this alternative fuel is at the same current price level as lignite.

Synergistic effects of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst for maximizing bio-hydrogen harvesting from sugarcane bagasse de-polymerization

In this study, hydrogen harvesting from fermentation of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was promoted by maintaining synergism between sulfonated graphene (SGR) catalyst and paper mill sludge (PMS). The sulfonic acid (–SO3H) groups in the catalyst played a major role in destructing the β-1,4 glycosidic bonds of sugarcane bagasse, releasing readily biodegradable sugars into the fermentation medium. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin conversion efficiency were improved by 127.5%, 495.0%, and 109.2%, respectively with 20 mgSGR/gVS catalyst addition, compared with the control samples. These values were also higher than those obtained by non-sulfonated graphene catalyst. The hydrogenation of sugarcane bagasse was maximized at a sulfonated graphene catalyst dosage of 60 mgSGR/gVS, providing the highest hydrogen harvesting of 4104 ± 321 mL. This was associated with an increase of the Proteobacteria phyla up to 52.0%, Firmicutes phyla to 13.9%, and Acinetobacter sp. to 39.8% compared with only 37.0%, 11.3% and 11.1% in the control assay respectively. Moreover, sulfonated graphene catalyst supplementation promoted the acetate fermentation reaction pathway by increasing the acetate/butyrate ratio up to 4.1. Nevertheless, elevating the catalyst dosage up to 120 mgSGR/gVS reduced the hydrogen harvesting (1190 ± 92 mL) due to the release of furfural (1.76 ± 0.02 g/L) in the fermentation cultures, deteriorating the microbes’ internal composition and metabolism bioactivities. Finally maximizing the hydrogen productivity from sugarcane bagasse is feasible by incorporation of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst at dosage not exceeding 60 mgSGR/gVS. However, investigating the recyclability and disposal of digestate containing sulfonated graphene catalyst and the associated economic feasibility needs more attention in the future.

Ammonium removal by metakaolin-based geopolymers from municipal and industrial wastewaters and its sequential recovery by stripping techniques

In this study, a technical scheme of an ammonium recovery process from diluted municipal or industrial wastewaters was developed, and the main operational parameters of adsorption/desorption and air-stripping/acid-scrubbing or membrane units were examined. The proposed approach combines the removal of ammonium nitrogen by an ion-exchange mechanism on metakaolin-based geopolymers (MKGPs) followed by adsorbent regeneration. A regeneration agent was purified by the air-stripping technique or membrane technology. A ready-to-use market-grade fertilizer or industrial-grade ammonia water could be obtained as the final product. The properties and regeneration ability of MKGP, prepared from activated kaolinite clay, were compared with new geopolymer adsorbents based on papermill sludge (FS MKGP). Adsorption fixed-bed column experiments with continuously circulated regeneration solution purified by air-stripping or the membrane approach were conducted to determine the limits of the regeneration solution’s application. Sodium and potassium salts were tested as regeneration agents, and the influence of regeneration solution composition on ammonium removal and recovery rates was investigated. Based on a breakthrough curve analysis, the removal rate of ammonium N by FS MKGP was found to be 3.2 times higher than that by MKGP for actual wastewater samples. Moreover, there were substantial differences in the regeneration regime between the two adsorbents. For the air-stripping technique, a liquid-phase temperature of 45°C was minimal and enough for efficient ammonia transfer to the gaseous phase. For the membrane technique, a feed-phase temperature of 40°C was enough for removing ammonia from the regeneration solution, while no heating of a receiving phase was required.

Application of paper mill sludge and additional chemical substances in the production of container cardboard

The possibility to dispose of paper mill sludge as part of a composition of container cardboard from secondary raw materials has been investigated. The fractional composition of the sludge was studied and it was shown that the main part of the fibers is represented by small particles with a size of up to 1.2 mm. Studying the processes of formation of container cardboard when using paper mill sludge showed that an increase in the consumption of fibrous-inorganic waste leads to a deterioration in the physical and mechanical properties of cardboard. However, the increase in sludge consumption does not affect the surface absorption of water during one-sided wetting. The value of these indicators is within the normal range and is 25 and 70 g/m2, respectively. In addition, an increase in sludge consumption from 10 to 50 % in the manufacture of cardboard leads to a decrease in the degree of fiber retention on the grid from 86.3 to 82.1 %. Regularities of using strengthening additives, namely industrial cationic and anionic flocculants, as well as native corn and modified starches for the strength of cardboard and the quality of sub-grid waters, have been established. Research results show that the effect of flocculants is quite ambiguous. On the one hand, there is a clearly observed positive impact on the quality of the sub-grid waters. This is due to the reduction of their turbidity due to smaller fiber washes. Nevertheless, the positive effect on physical and mechanical parameters is minimal, and in some cases, there is a decrease in strength indicators. The greater the efficiency of keeping fine fiber on the grid when using flocculants, the lower the values of physical and mechanical indicators. In general, when using sludge in the composition of cardboard in combination with flocculants and starch, the indicators were achieved that are considered standard for waste paper container cardboard of grade KT-1 according to TU U 17.1-41085075-002:2017

Insight into the effect of calcium carbonate filler on the dewatering performance of simulated pulp & paper mill sludge

The dewatering of large amount of industry sludge is one of the significant environmental problems in the pulp and paper industry. Calcium carbonate fillers are an important component in primary sludge from paper mills. In this paper, the role of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) on the dewaterability of simulated mixed paper mill sludge (the mixture of PCC and secondary sludge) without and with FeCl3 conditioning was studied. The results showed that when the PCC content increased from 0 to 600 mg/g dry sludge (DS) without FeCl3 conditioning, the moisture content (MC) and the specific resistance to filtration (SRF) decreased from 89.4% and 3.1 × 1013 m/kg to 66.7% and 2.4 × 1012 m/kg, respectively. However, when the PCC content was high enough (> 444 mg/g DS), the effective moisture content (MC*) changed little and the net sludge solid yield (YN) decreased, indicating that the non-conditioning effect of PCC dominated at high PCC content. Furthermore, increasing PCC content reduced the compressibility coefficient, although the change was insignificant from 1.06 to 0.91. When FeCl3 was used as the chemical conditioner, FeCl3 and PCC had additive effects on improving the sludge dewaterability (such as MC, SRF and compressibility). The improving mechanism of PCC on the sludge dewaterability can be explained by the release of Ca2+ from PCC caused by lower pH, the bridging effect of multivalent cation and the formation of more rigid sludge flocs.

Review of recycling alternatives for paper pulp wastes

The demand for products derived from the pulp and paper industry has been increasing over the past years and is projected to further increase over the coming decades. Although being one of Portugal’s most relevant industrial activities, contributing to nearly 2.3% of the GDP, this sector is known to generate a variety of wastes including fly ashes, exhausted bed sands, green liquor dregs, grits, lime muds, biological and pulp and paper mill sludges, which have been mostly disposed of in landfills. This strategy is not aligned with the circular economy vision, and therefore it is imperative to develop new recycling routes for the different waste streams. This scenario has driven a significant research effort in the attempt to design sustainable recycling alternatives for the distinct wastes. This study summarizes the investigations focusing on the valorisation of these wastes in a wide range of applications, including the production of low carbon footprint binders or mortars for the construction sector, but also the production of novel materials for high added-value applications such as wastewater treatment and pH regulation. The present work also highlights the main bottlenecks and future prospects for the studied wastes.

Pulp and Paper Mill Sludge; a Soil Amendment and Compost option for Landfill Diversion for South-Africa

In South-Africa, approximately 30% of all recycled paper is being disposed into landfill sites or incinerated. Using this type of hazardous and industrial waste as a resource is essential to reduce landfilling of organic waste. In this study, Pulp and Paper-Mill Sludge (PPMS) has been evaluated under two possible pathways contributing to landfill diversion and secondary use: compostability and the use of PPMS as a soil amendment. A short review of existing studies on PPMS using these two pathways as alternative for secondary use and within the South-African context have been undertaken. This investigation showed that the addition of PPMS to soil as an amendment does not negatively affect sol fertility. The potential of PPMS as a soil amendment or compost contribute to improving factors allowing for increased soil fertility resulting in a better soil structure. Such effects from either using PPMS as an amendment or compost will directly increase resistance of soils to degradation ultimately allowing for reduced erosion potential of soils.

Preparation and Characterization of Pulp and Paper Mill Sludge-Activated Biochars Using Alkaline Activation: A Box-Behnken Design Approach.

This study utilized pulp and paper mill sludge as a carbon source to produce activated biochar adsorbents. The response surface methodology (RSM) application for predicting and optimizing the activated biochar preparation conditions was investigated. Biochars were prepared based on a Box–Behnken design (BBD) approach with three independent factors (i.e., pyrolysis temperature, holding time, and KOH:biomass ratio), and the responses evaluated were specific surface area (SSA), micropore area (Smicro), and mesopore area (Smeso). According to the RSM and BBD analysis, a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C for 3 h of holding and an impregnation ratio of 1:1 (biomass:KOH) are the optimum conditions for obtaining the highest SSA (885 m2 g–1). Maximized Smicro was reached at 800 °C, 1 h and the ratio of 1:1, and for maximizing Smeso (569.16 m2 g–1), 800 °C, 2 h and ratio 1:1.5 (445–473 m2 g–1) were employed. The biochars presented different micro- and mesoporosity characteristics depending on pyrolysis conditions. Elemental analysis showed that biochars exhibited high carbon and oxygen content. Raman analysis indicated that all biochars had disordered carbon structures with structural defects, which can boost their properties, e.g., by improving their adsorption performances. The hydrophobicity–hydrophilicity experiments showed very hydrophobic biochar surfaces. The biochars were used as adsorbents for diclofenac and amoxicillin. They presented very high adsorption performances, which could be explained by the pore filling, hydrophobic surface, and π–π electron–donor–acceptor interactions between aromatic rings of both adsorbent and adsorbate. The biochar with the highest surface area (and highest uptake performance) was subjected to regeneration tests, showing that it can be reused multiple times.

Evaluating land application of pulp and paper mill sludge: A review.

It is estimated that >400Mt of board and paper are produced globally per year, and that 4.3-40kg (dw) of sludge like material, pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS), is generated for every tonne of product. PPMS are now more widely reused in agriculture as a soil amendment due to their high organic content of 40-50% by weight, perceived low toxicity and possible liming capabilities. Within this review article historic and recent literature on PPMS land spreading are combined with knowledge of European and UK regulation to explore the benefits, potential impacts and viability of land spreading PPMS. The review reveals that risks relating to potential N immobilisation in soils post-application can be readily mitigated, if desired, by coapplication of an N source, or even pre-treatment of sludge via composting. The benefits to crops have been demonstrated emphatically, while negative ecological impacts under typical field application rates have not been observed to date. The case is therefore strong for continued land application of the material as an environmentally responsible and sustainable use option. However, there are currently gaps in the literature regarding longer-term implications of PPMS applications in agriculture and in regards to the possible presence of emerging contaminants in some PPMS materials, both of which have been identified as areas that merit further research.

Biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste in continuously stirred tank reactor

The purpose of current investigation was to explore the scope of integrating an anaerobic digester in a decentralized municipal wastewater treatment plant for in-situ treatment of household waste. The present work intends to identify the potential of sewage sludge and food waste for biogas generation. The study was conducted in lab scale continuous stirred tank reactor having a working volume of 6.5 L at mesophilic temperature. The paper mill sludge was used as inoculum and was stabilised using food waste substrate for initial 50 days in batch mode. Co-digestion of food waste (FW) and bio-flocculated sewage sludge (BFS) was performed using continuous feeding for maintaining OLR of 2.5 gVSL−1D−1at HRT of 4 days for 120 days. 2% FW and 98% BFS (by volume) was feeded in the reactor throughout the experimental duration. The highest VFA accumulation of 1902 mg L−1 were observed and maximum bio-methane yield was found to be 127.05 mLCH4 g−1 VSadded. The pH with current feeding ratio was found stable during the reactor operation without adding external alkalinity source.

Hydrothermal carbonisation of paper sludge: Effect of process conditions on hydrochar fuel characteristics and energy recycling efficiency

Current management of solid waste from pulp and paper activities represents an environmental and economic burden worldwide due to pollution emissions. This study investigates the potential of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) treatment as a sustainable alternative for producing cleaner and energy-dense solid fuel from paper mill sludge. The effect of process parameters (temperature, reaction time and solid load) on hydrochar fuel formation from paper sludge was evaluated and, for the first time, the paper sludge-derived hydrochar was optimised to maximise the mass yield and calorific value using response surface methodology (RSM). The physicochemical characteristics, thermal fuel behaviour, energy recycling efficiency and electricity generation potential were assessed by proximate and ultimate analysis, thermogravimetry, bomb calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy and process energy assessment. Results showed that hydrochar fuel formation and properties were mainly influenced by the process temperature and residence time, and governed by dehydration and decarboxylation reactions which reduced the atomic H/C and O/C ratios by 35.5% and 64%, respectively. The produced hydrochars presented low sulphur, nitrogen and ash content with a maximum calorific value (HHV) of 22.9 MJ/kg, equivalent to the HHV of coal for commercial utility in South Africa. The HHV of the hydrochar corresponded to a 49.80% increase over the HHV of the initial feedstock. The optimum operating conditions were 231 ± 1 °C and 1.99 h for a hydrochar yield of 74.4% and calorific value of 18.5 MJ/kg. The energy assessment showed that up to 58.34% of the energy produced by hydrochar fuel combustion may be recycled as heat or power, while the remaining 41.66% of the combustion energy could be utilised to sustain the HTC treatment of paper sludge. The substantial water demand was concluded to be a drawback. Thus, water recirculation and the potential to catalyse the HTC reactions to increase overall process efficiency will constitute a future study to make the process more environmentally friendly for industrial-scale application.

Preparation of nitrogen-enriched Fe-doped porous biochar using the catalytic pyrolysis of paper mill sludge

Preparation of nitrogen-enriched Fe-doped porous biochar using the catalytic pyrolysis of paper mill sludge

Co-pyrolysis of paper mill sludge and textile dyeing sludge with high calorific value solid waste: Pyrolysis kinetics, products distribution, and pollutants transformation

Paper mill sludge (PMS) and printing and textile dyeing sludge (TDS) are two typical industrial sludge with high calcium content, high ash content and low calorific value. To attain effective removal of industrial solid waste, in this study, PMS and TDS are first pyrolyzed independently to study their thermochemical behavior. Results show that 600 °C is the optimal pyrolysis temperature for both PMS and TDS from the perspective of organics degradation. However, the yield and quality of pyrolysis oil and gas are still at low level due to the characteristics of high ash content and low organic content, which is not suitable for fuel recovery. Two kinds of organic solid wastes with high calorific value, duckweed (DW) and waste tire (WT), are co-pyrolyzed with PMS and TDS, which can effectively reduce activation energy and increase the yield of liquid and gas products. The most prominent is P1D1 pyrolysis gas, the production of CH4 and C2-C3 increased from 10.80 L/kg and 3.89 L/kg to 20.16 L/kg and 15.58 L/kg respectively, and the high calorific value also increased to 230.93 kJ/kg. The quality of pyrolysis liquid has been improved significantly as the declined N and O-heteroatom content (especially for P1D1 and T1W1) due to the inhibition effect of co-pyrolysis on the N/O migration into pyrolytic liquid. The solid residue from the co-pyrolysis of PMS and DW contains rich N-functional groups and can promote the conversion of pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N to quaternary-N. Compared with independent pyrolysis, co-pyrolysis can promote the degradation of harmful organic matter in sludge. The addition of DW and WT co-pyrolysis reduced the solid residue yield of PMS by 19.9 wt% and 14.9 wt% (13.4 wt% and 10.5 wt% for TDS). This work provides inspiration for further understanding the safe disposal of PMS and TDS by pyrolysis.

Heavy metals migration and antibiotics removal in anaerobic digestion of swine manure with biochar addition

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a key technology for the utilization of swine manure, but the complex pollution of heavy metals and antibiotics in manure is catching more attentions. In this study, AD of swine manure loading with four types of biochar was performed in a 1 L-frosted jar with the total fresh weight of 840 g, in which the effects of biochar on the AD stability and methane yields were focused, and the removal of antibiotics and migration of heavy metals were investigated as well. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of sulfadimidine and tylosin were remarkable, which were up to around 70% and 100%, respectively. The maximum methane yield of 146.98 mL/ (g VS) was noted in the digester added with the biochar derived from paper mill sludge (BPMS) which contained 87.35% of ash, having a high pH PZC of 8.95 and more mesopores and macropores. In this reactor, 12.40% of Cu was moved to the solid phase, and 70.26% of Zn and 82.80% of As were migrated to the solid digestate. Compared to the control, the content of the acid soluble Cu in the digester loaded with BPMS was decreased to 7.99%, and no acid soluble Zn was found along with a drop of 29.20% for the reducible Zn, and the residual As content was increased by 16.60%. It revealed that BPMS had a great potentiality to remove As and Zn in wastewater and synchronously mitigate the bioavailability of Cu/Zn/As in the digestate. Herein, applying BPMS in the AD of swine manure could reduce the complex pollution of heavy metals and antibiotics, and obtain a higher methane yield simultaneously. • Paper mill sludge biochar had high pH PZC and was rich of ash, macropores and mesopores. • Around 70% of SDM and 100% of TYL were degraded in AD. • Highest methane yield was noted in the digester loaded with paper mill sludge biochar. • 70.26% Zn and 82.80% As migrated to solid digestate via paper mill sludge biochar adsorption. • Paper mill sludge biochar could reduce the eco-toxicity of Cu, Zn, As in the digestate.

Utilization of paper mill sludge as a sustainable source of hydrogen production

This study presents the utilization of paper mill sludge (PMS) as biomass for producing hydrogen from steam gasification. PMS is a wet waste and its utilization for hydrogen production would give a new direction to its management. In this work, the performance of PMS during steam gasification was studied by varying the steam flow rate (SFR) and by determining the various characteristics of product gas such as syngas yield, syngas composition, and its high heating value (HHV). The SFR was varied from 0.25 mL/min to 1.0 mL/min depending upon the steam to biomass ratio. The performance parameter, cold gas efficiency (CGE) was also determined to evaluate the performance of PMS during steam gasification and the highest CGE was found to be around 96% at optimal SFR. The optimal SFR was found to be 0.75 mL/min and the syngas characteristics at optimal SFR were found to be 1.4 m3/Kg (syngas yield), 58% (hydrogen fraction in syngas), and 11.92 MJ/m3 (HHV). The feasibility of the PMS management and its utilization using steam gasification methods can further be increased by using renewable sources of energy for heating the gasifier.

Technical feasibility of biomass and paper-mill sludge co-gasification for renewable fuel production using Aspen Plus

This work reports an innovative simulation method for effectively utilizing paper-mill sludge based on the co-gasification approach for energy-enriched renewable fuel production. An Aspen plus-based co-gasification model was developed to simulate and examine the synergetic effects of biomass and paper-mill sludge co-gasification. Initially, the model was validated using experimental data from the reported literature and found good agreement regarding gasification and co-gasification approaches. Sensitivity analysis of biomass gasification revealed that the maximum H2 content of 29.6% and CO (36.0%), LHV (7.8 MJ/Nm3), 72.2% (CCE) was obtained at optimal (850 °C: temperature; 1 bar: pressure; 0.2: ER) conditions. Further, the H2 proportion enhanced, and CO declined to 38.8 and 30.7% at the same operating conditions, respectively, with a co-gasification ratio of 50% compared to 0% (H2: 29.6% and CO: 36.0%). However, with increasing the co-gasification ratio beyond 20%, the CO content started to follow upward trends; at the same CGR, the H2, LHV, and CCE observed were 36.0%, 7.76 MJ/Nm3, and 65.2%, respectively. Hence, the developed co-gasification model can provide vital information for large-scale gasifier design, operating decisions, and optimization using different biomass blends.

Isolation of functional ligninolytic Bacillus aryabhattai from paper mill sludge and its lignin degradation potential

Kraft lignin (KL), is the major pollutant in pulp and paper effluent and due to its heterogeneous structure, it is resistant to the depolymerization process. It has drawn much attention from the researcher due to its challenging degradation process. In this study, a KL-degrading bacterium was isolated and screened from paper mill sludge. This bacterium was identified as ligninolytic Bacillus aryabhattai using biochemical and 16SrRNA gene analysis. B. aryabhattai showed maximum activities of lignin peroxidase-LiP (0.74 IU mL−1) and manganese peroxidase-MnP (9.2 IU mL−1) on the 4th day, and 5th day, respectively. A total 84% of KL (500 mg L−1) reduction was observed after 14 days. The KL bio-degradation was confirmed based on changes in chemical stracture of KL and new metabolites identification using FTIR and GC–MS, respectively. The study concluded that B. aryabhattai maybe becomes a potential biological agent in KL biodegradation and treatment of other lignin-containing industrial effluents.

Differentiated strategies of animal-derived and plant-derived biochar to reduce nitrogen loss during paper mill sludge composting

This work aimed to reveal the differences of nitrogen (N) transformation between animal-derived and plant-derived biochar during paper mill sludge composting. Three treatments were established, including CK (no biochar), ABC (animal-derived biochar), and PBC (plant-derived biochar). Results showed that N loss was reduced by 24.43% and 35.50% in ABC and PBC, respectively, compared with CK. Moreover, the contents of acid-insoluble N (AIN) in ABC and bioavailable organic N (BON) in PBC were 6.180 g/kg and 9.269 g/kg higher than in CK (2.602 g/kg and 8.988 g/kg). The protease activity and bacterial abundance associated with the generation of humic N-containing precursors increased in ABC. Low urease activity and a more complex bacterial N-cycling network were found in PBC. Structural equation model confirmed that AIN formation and BON retention were the dominant strategies for animal-derived and plant-derived biochar, respectively. The findings provided multiple pathways to produce N-enriched compost products.