The effect of using activated carbon obtained from sewage sludge as a fuel additive on engine performance and emissions

Abstract

The increasing need for clean water depending on the world?s population has accelerated efforts to re-evaluate the use of water. This has led to the spread of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Sewage sludge (SS), which is the waste of WWTP, is increasing due to the increase in the number of plants. As a result, the disposal and evaluation of SS, which is waste, has accelerated. In this study, re-searches were carried out on different usage areas of SS, which is WWTP waste. The SS was first dried. After the drying process, the SS was subjected to physical and chemical activation processes and turned into activated carbon. Activated carbons were obtained at different operating temperatures. The FT-IR, XRD, ICP-MS, TG-DTA, CHNS, SEM-EDX analyzes were performed for the obtained activated carbons. According to the results of the analysis, the selected activated carbons were mixed with diesel fuel at 50 ppm and 100 ppm ratios. The effects of fuel mixtures prepared with diesel fuel in terms of engine performance, combustion and emissions are investigated. Engine performance and exhaust emission measurements were made in a 6-cylinder Diesel engine at a constant speed of 600 rpm and under five different loads (0 Nm, 50 Nm, 100 Nm, 150 Nm, and 200 Nm). Emission values were measured as CO, HC, CO2, O2, and NOx and comparative assessments were made. In this study, the positive effects of SS-derived activated carbons on the engine were determined by using it as a diesel fuel additive.