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Energy conversion from wastewater sewage sludge
Author(s) -
Billah Arif,
Techato Kuaanan,
Taweepreda Wirach
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.348
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 1932-2135
DOI - 10.1002/apj.2491
Subject(s) - sawdust , pellets , pellet , pulp and paper industry , thermogravimetric analysis , inductively coupled plasma , waste management , heat of combustion , sewage sludge , natural rubber , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , materials science , sewage treatment , chemistry , environmental engineering , combustion , composite material , plasma , physics , organic chemistry , oceanography , quantum mechanics , engineering , geology
Abstract Natural rubber‐based industries in Southern Thailand are generating concentrated latex sewage sludge (CLS), which is commonly managed by landfilling practice that is causing serious environmental hazards. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to produce pellets using CLS and para‐wood sawdust as a potential biomass source for energy generation. The process started with dewatering the CLS through a decanter centrifuge. Then a flat die pellet mill was applied for copelletization. Finally, the pellets were investigated to evaluate the higher heating value and toxic heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Cd, and Pb) using proximate ‐ ultimate analysis, fourier transform infrared analysis, scanning electron microscopy, calorific value, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic absorption spectrometer, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of the para‐wood sawdust resulted in higher heating value and lower ash content of 3,620 ± 12 kcal/kg and 4.93 ± 0.98%, respectively. Besides, it has increased the carbon content of the pellet from 28.23 to 46.26% highest among all the samples. Furthermore, the method developed in this study is not only environmentally friendly but also economically sound than the earlier management of CLS.