Conversion of Sewage Sludge into Biofuels via Different Pathways and Their Use in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review

Zygmunt Kowalski (), Agnieszka Makara, Joanna Kulczycka, Agnieszka Generowicz, Paweł Kwaśnicki, Józef Ciuła and Anna Gronba-Chyła
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Zygmunt Kowalski: Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Makara: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Joanna Kulczycka: Faculty of Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, Gramatyka 10, 30-067 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Generowicz: Department of Environmental Technologies, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Paweł Kwaśnicki: Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Józef Ciuła: Faculty of Engineering Sciences, State University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, 33-300 Nowy Sącz, Poland
Anna Gronba-Chyła: Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-708 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-28

Abstract: The valorisation of sewage sludge for sustainable agricultural use and biofuel production proposes an effective and beneficial management of sewage sludge in a closed-loop cycle. The management of sewage sludge biowaste is a rising problem due to increasing waste storage expenses. In this sense, the use of circular economy principles in sewage sludge management creates opportunities to develop new technologies for processing. The biorefinery model allows the application of wasteless technologies via sewage sludge valorisation in terms of agricultural use and biofuel production, especially with the hydrothermal carbonisation method. Applying hydrothermal carbonisation in the treatment of biosolid sewage sludge has numerous benefits due to processing highly hydrated organic waste into carbon hydro char, a high-quality solid biofuel. The direct use of sewage sludge in the soil does not allow for full use of its functional properties. However, the hydrothermal carbonisation of sewage sludge results in biocarbon pellets, making it a viable approach. This work also discusses the barriers (legal, chemical, biological, and technical) and possibilities related to sewage sludge biorefining processes.

Keywords: biosolids sewage sludge; agricultural use; thermal treatment; hydrothermal carbonization; sustainable management; circular economy (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
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