Abstract

Anaerobically digested sewage sludge mixed with forest residues was pyrolysed at 800 °C, at laboratory and pilot scale. The study quantified differences in char and gas yields for tests carried out in a simple fixed bed laboratory reactor and rotating retort pyrolyser at pilot scale, when the residence time of feedstock was 10 min in both cases. The yield of char from pilot scale was 4 % lower than from laboratory scale while the yield of gas was 15.7 % higher. During the pilot scale pyrolysis of anaerobically digested sewage sludge blended with forest residues the gas quality for energy recovery applications was assessed and the fate of impurities (tar, NH₃ and H₂S) was investigated. The raw pyrolysis gas contained 14.6 g/Nm³ of tar, 36.9 g/Nm³ of NH₃ and 793 ppm of H₂S. Sixteen N-containing tar species were identified of which pyridine, propenenitrile, 2-methyl-, benzonitrile, and indole are found to be the most abundant. The yield of N-containing tar compounds accounted for approx. 12 % of total tar content. Conditioned pyrolysis gas contained 7.1 g/Nm³ of tar, 0.036 g/Nm³ of NH₃ and 119 ppm of H₂S. Benzene was by far the most abundant tar compound followed by toluene and styrene. The specifications of the used internal combustion engine were exceeded due to the sum of tar compounds such as fluorantrene and pyrene with 4+ aromatic rings (at 0.0015 g/Nm³) and NH₃ content The effectiveness and sustainability of energy recovery in wastewater treatment can be improved using forest industry by-products.

Keywords

Pyrolysis gas; Tar; Char; Thermal conversion; Circular economy; Gas impurities

Published in

Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
2021, Volume: 158, article number: 105283

SLU Authors

• Agar, David

  • Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Renewable Bioenergy Research


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105283

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112907