Hydrothermal Carbonization of Chemical and Biological Pulp Mill Sludges

Clara Lisseth Mendoza Martinez, Ekaterina Sermyagina and Esa Vakkilainen
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Clara Lisseth Mendoza Martinez: School of Energy Systems, LUT University, Yliopistonkatu 34, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Ekaterina Sermyagina: School of Energy Systems, LUT University, Yliopistonkatu 34, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Esa Vakkilainen: School of Energy Systems, LUT University, Yliopistonkatu 34, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-18

Abstract: A modern pulp mill generates a variety of different by-products and waste streams, some of these can be recycled, refined, sold, or used on-site for energy production. However, some, such as chemical and biological sludges produced in wastewater treatment cannot be reused or disposed of easily, mainly due to their high moisture content and poor drying characteristics. Tightening legislation regarding waste disposal as well as the growing need to increase the process efficiencies of pulp mills act as driving forces to find environmentally friendly and energy-efficient techniques for pulp mill sludge treatment. This study summarizes the current methods for pulp mill sludge handling and evaluates the potential of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), a conversion process through which wet organic substrates can be transformed into a carbonaceous material (hydrochar). Depending on the process parameters, the material’s structure is modified, enabling hydrochar use in energy, soil conditioning and adsorption applications. The sludges were hydrothermally carbonized at 180, 200, 220 and 240 °C for 3 h. The hydrochar and liquid products’ main properties were analyzed. Their potential applications were also evaluated. The effective treatment of sludges from the pulp industry with HTC could transform energy-demanding waste into a value-added source of materials.

Keywords: thermochemical process; sludge treatment; waste biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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