An Analysis of the Physicochemical and Energy Parameters of Briquettes Manufactured from Sewage Sludge Mixtures and Selected Organic Additives

Sebastian Kujawiak, Małgorzata Makowska, Damian Janczak, Wojciech Czekała (), Włodzimierz Krzesiński, Ariel Antonowicz and Karol Kupryaniuk
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Sebastian Kujawiak: Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Piątkowska 94A, 60-649 Poznan, Poland
Małgorzata Makowska: Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Piątkowska 94A, 60-649 Poznan, Poland
Damian Janczak: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland
Wojciech Czekała: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland
Włodzimierz Krzesiński: Department of Vegetable Crops, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznan, Poland
Ariel Antonowicz: Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Karol Kupryaniuk: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: As a by-product of wastewater treatment, sewage sludge can be used for natural, agricultural, or energy purposes. One method of preparing sludge for management and use is solar drying. To intensify the drying process, natural additives can be used to alter the structure of the sludge and accelerate the evaporation of water. This research aimed to evaluate the influences of different organic additives in sewage sludge mixtures on the physicochemical and energy parameters of briquettes. This research was carried out without thermal boosting in a 4 × 2.5 × 2 m plastic tunnel. The tunnel was equipped with three drying stations and control and measuring equipment. In two test series, sludge additives in the form of straw and lignocellulosic materials, sawdust, bark, woodchips, and walnut shells, were used. Briquettes were made from the resulting mixtures and then subjected to physical and chemical analyses. This research showed high variability in the contents of trace elements, nitrogen, and sulphur in relation to an increase in the amount of sludge in the briquettes, which, for the briquettes made from sewage sludge, was nearly twice as high as for the briquettes made from the mixtures. The results of the flue gas analysis for the briquettes with sawdust and wood chip additives were very similar. The briquettes made from sewage sludge with lignocellulosic materials (bark and wood chips) had fuel properties similar to woody biomass, with a calorific value and heat of combustion of 15–16 MJ/kg. Fibrous additives (straw) significantly increased the strength parameters of the briquettes, by more than 50% of the value. The compositions and properties of the mixtures affected the following briquetting parameters: temperature and compressive force. The briquettes made from sewage sludge and additives can be classified according to ISO 21640 as SRFs (solid recovered fuels). In most of the results, the net calorific value (NCV) was 3 to 4; the chlorine content (CL) was 2 to 1; and the mercury content (Hg) was 1. The sewage sludge mixtures facilitated the agricultural and energy use of the briquettes.

Keywords: solar drying; briquetting; sewage sludge; circular economy; waste management (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: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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