Sustainable Solid Biofuel Production: Transforming Sewage Sludge and Pinus sp. Sawdust into Resources for the Circular Economy

Alex Borges Pereira, Antonio José Vinha Zanuncio (), Amélia Guimarães Carvalho, Angélica de Cassia Oliveira Carneiro, Vinícius Resende de Castro, Ana Marcia Macedo Ladeira Carvalho, Olivia Pereira Lopes, Monique Branco-Vieira, Marcos Vinícius Ferreira, Rosana Maria Nascimento de Assunção and Solange de Oliveira Araujo ()
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Alex Borges Pereira: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Antonio José Vinha Zanuncio: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Amélia Guimarães Carvalho: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Angélica de Cassia Oliveira Carneiro: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
Vinícius Resende de Castro: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
Ana Marcia Macedo Ladeira Carvalho: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
Olivia Pereira Lopes: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Monique Branco-Vieira: Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Strategies and Technology Assessment, Stahnsdorfer Damm 81, 14532 Kleinmachnow, Germany
Marcos Vinícius Ferreira: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Rosana Maria Nascimento de Assunção: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Solange de Oliveira Araujo: Centro de Estudos Florestais, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: The lack of adequate sanitation in Brazil overloads the health system and causes deaths. The utilization of sewage sludge hinders advancements in water treatment. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of producing briquettes by blending sewage sludge with Pinus sp. sawdust. The sewage sludge was sourced from a water treatment facility, while the Pinus sp. sawdust was obtained from a sawmill. Elemental analysis, proximate analysis, and calorific value were evaluated for both biomasses. Briquettes were manufactured using a hydraulic press, varying the proportion of sewage sludge from 0% to 95%, followed by thermogravimetric analysis. Pinus sp. sawdust exhibited higher carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen content, whereas sewage sludge contained more nitrogen and sulfur. The sawdust had greater fixed carbon content, volatile matter, and calorific value, while the sewage sludge had higher ash content. Samples with higher sewage sludge content showed better thermal resistance, with 100% sewage sludge retaining 63.3% mass after exposure to 950 °C. Briquettes with higher sewage sludge content had increased energy density. Considering the elevated nitrogen, sulfur, and ash content, sewage sludge should be limited to 5% in briquette production with Pinus sp. sawdust. This research underscores a significant avenue for sewage sludge utilization and sustainable bioenergy production.

Keywords: bioenergy; briquettes; renewable energy; recycling; waste management; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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