Research on Thermochemical and Gas Emissions Analysis for the Sustainable Co-Combustion of Petroleum Oily Sludge and High-Alkali Lignite

Yang Guo (), Jie Zheng, Demian Wang, Pengtu Zhang, Yixin Zhang (), Meng Lin and Shiling Yuan
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Yang Guo: Shandong Key Laboratory of Green Electricity & Hydrogen Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying 257061, China
Jie Zheng: Shandong Key Laboratory of Green Electricity & Hydrogen Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying 257061, China
Demian Wang: Shandong Key Laboratory of Green Electricity & Hydrogen Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying 257061, China
Pengtu Zhang: Shandong Key Laboratory of Green Electricity & Hydrogen Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying 257061, China
Yixin Zhang: National Engineering Research Center of Coal Preparation and Purification, University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Meng Lin: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
Shiling Yuan: Shandong Key Laboratory of Green Electricity & Hydrogen Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying 257061, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Petroleum oily sludge (OLS), a hazardous by-product of the petroleum industry, and high-alkali lignite (HAL), an underutilized low-rank coal, pose significant challenges to sustainable waste management and resource efficiency. This study systematically investigated the combustion behavior, reaction pathways, and gaseous-pollutant-release mechanisms across varying blend ratios, utilizing integrated thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry analysis (TG-MS), interaction analysis, and kinetic modeling. The key findings reveal that co-combustion significantly enhances the combustion performance compared to individual fuels. This is evidenced by reduced ignition and burnout temperatures, as well as an improved comprehensive combustion index. Notably, an interaction analysis revealed coexisting synergistic and antagonistic effects, with the synergistic effect peaking at a blending ratio of 50% OLS due to the complementary properties of the fuels. The activation energy was found to be at its minimum value of 32.5 kJ/mol at this ratio, indicating lower reaction barriers. Regarding gas emissions, co-combustion at a 50% OLS blending ratio reduces incomplete combustion products while increasing CO 2 , indicating a more complete reaction. Crucially, sulfur-containing pollutants (SO 2 , H 2 S) are suppressed, whereas nitrogen-containing emissions (NH 3 , NO 2 ) increase but remain controllable. This study provides novel insights into the synergistic mechanisms between OLS and HAL during co-combustion, offering foundational insights for the optimization of OLS-HAL combustion systems toward efficient energy recovery and sustainable industrial waste management.

Keywords: petroleum oily sludge; high alkali lignite; co-combustion; waste resource utilization; thermochemical; gas emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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