Sludge thermochemical treatment
An introduction to sludge thermochemical treatment methods
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Thermochemical methods are employed for either significantly reducing the sludge solids content, or pre-treating sludge upstream of anaerobic digestion (AD) to increase the biodegradability of the organic carbon. When operated at elevated temperatures, i.e. for solids destruction rather than for AD pre-treatment, they provide energy recoverable either as heat (for oxidative processes) or a combustible gas or liquid (non-oxidative processes).
An introduction to sludge thermochemical treatment methods
Thermochemical methods are used for either degrading the sludge solids or pre-treating sludge upstream of anaerobic digestion
Various reactor configurations exist for sludge thermochemical treatment which vary in design, operation and application
An introduction to oxidative sludge thermochemical treatment methods
Incineration is the most well established and widely implemented of the sludge thermochemical treatment processes
Wet/wet air oxidation of sludge is the thermal degradation, hydrolysis and oxidation of organics at high temperatures
Supercritical water oxidation refers to the oxidation of organics in water in the so-called supercritical phase of water
An introduction to non-oxidative sludge thermochemical treatment methods
Pyrolysis refers to the decomposition of organic matter at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen and water
Gasification is an extension of the pyrolysis process for thermochemical treatment of sludge
Hydrothermal sludge treatment employs elevated temperatures and pressures in wet conditions and in the absence of oxygen
An animation demonstrating 'fast pyrolysis' producing bio-oil as the final product. This video is made available as part of the biofuels education projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Oxidative methods for sludge thermal treatment comprise incineration, wet air oxidation and supercritical water oxidation
Non-oxidative thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge refers to treatment at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen
Oxidative methods for sludge thermal treatment comprise incineration, wet air oxidation and supercritical water oxidation
Non-oxidative thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge refers to treatment at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen
Thickening, dewatering and drying extract water from sludge to reduce the sludge volume
Sludge stabilisation − alkaline stabilisation, lime and solids dosing, plus anaerobic and aerobic digestion
Sludge is the main waste stream from the treatment of wastewater