Co-Valorisation Energy Potential of Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Agroforestry Waste
-
Published:2024-01-09
Issue:1
Volume:11
Page:14
-
ISSN:2076-3298
-
Container-title:Environments
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Environments
Author:
Borges Amadeu D. S.12ORCID, Oliveira Miguel2ORCID, Teixeira Bruno M. M.2, Branco Frederico34ORCID
Affiliation:
1. CQ-VR, Chemistry Research Centre–Vila Real, Laboratory of Thermal Sciences and Sustainability, Engineering Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal 2. Laboratory of Thermal Sciences and Sustainability, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal 3. Department of Engineering, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal 4. INESC TEC—Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable and environment-friendly energy sources resulted in extensive research in the field of renewable energy. Biomass, derived from organic materials such as agricultural waste, forestry products, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge, holds great potential as a renewable energy resource that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offer sustainable solutions for energy production. This study focused on diverse biomass materials, including sludge from WWTPs, forest biomass, swine waste, cork powder, and biochar. Chemical and physicochemical characterizations were performed to understand their energy potential, highlighting their elemental composition, proximate analysis, and calorific values. Results showed that different biomasses have varying energy content, with biochar and cork powder emerging as high-energy materials with net heating values of 32.56 MJ/kg and 25.73 MJ/kg, respectively. WWTP sludge also demonstrated considerable potential with net heating values of around 14.87 MJ/kg to 17.44 MJ/kg. The relationships between biomass compositions and their heating values were explored, indicating the significance of low nitrogen and sulphur content and favourable carbon, hydrogen, and moisture balances for energy production. Additionally, this study looked into the possibility of mixing different biomasses to optimize their use and overcome limitations like high ash and moisture contents. Mixtures, such as “75% Santo Emilião WWTP Sludge + 25% Biochar,” showed impressive net heating values of approximately 21.032 MJ/kg and demonstrated reduced emissions during combustion. The study’s findings contribute to renewable energy research, offering insights into efficient and sustainable energy production processes and emphasizing the environmental benefits of biomass energy sources with low nitrogen and sulphur content.
Subject
General Environmental Science,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference43 articles.
1. Ferreira Gregorio, V., Pié, L., and Terceño, A. (2018). A Systematic Literature Review of Bio, Green and Circular Economy Trends in Publications in the Field of Economics and Business Management. Sustainability, 10. 2. Lignocellulosic Biomass from Agricultural Waste to the Circular Economy: A Review with Focus on Biofuels, Biocomposites and Bioplastics;Mujtaba;J. Clean. Prod.,2023 3. Sohi, S., Lopez-Capel, E., Krull, E., and Bol, R. (2023, September 23). Biochar, Climate Change and Soil: A Review to Guide Future Research Soils of the Atacama Desert: Reservoir for and Fingerprint of Life View Project Agricultural Nutrient-Use Efficiency View Project. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228656328. 4. Stephenson, P.J., and Damerell, A. (2022). Bioeconomy and Circular Economy Approaches Need to Enhance the Focus on Biodiversity to Achieve Sustainability. Sustainability, 14. 5. Competitive Liquid Biofuels from Biomass;Demirbas;Appl. Energy,2011
|
|