Thermogravimetric investigation on co-combustion characteristics of tobacco residue and high-ash anthracite coal

The thermal behavior of high-ash anthracite coal, tobacco residue and their blends during combustion processes was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (20 K min(-1), ranging from ambient temperature to 1273 K). Effects of the mixed proportion between coal and tobacco residue on the combustion process, ignition and burnout characteristics were also studied. The results indicated that the combustion of tobacco residue was controlled by the emission of volatile matter; the regions were more complex for tobacco residue (four peaks) than for coal (two peaks). Also, the blends had integrative thermal profiles that reflected both tobacco residue and coal. The incorporation of tobacco residue could improve the combustion characteristics of high-ash anthracite coal, especially the ignition and burnout characteristics comparing with the separate burning of tobacco residue and coal. It was feasible to use the co-combustion of tobacco residue and high-ash anthracite coal as fuel.     

Effects of carbonization and solvent-extraction on change in fuel characteristics of sewage sludge

Urban sewage sludge was carbonized at 300-500 °C for 1 h, and combustible components were extracted through the solvent-extraction process. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) was used as the solvent for extraction, and the extraction temperature was fixed at 360 °C. The atomic ratios of the solvent-extracted sludge of CS300 (ECS300) were shown to be 1.04 for H/C and 0.11 for O/C, which represented the characteristics of its coal band. Thus, its coal band was similar to that of a high-rank fuel such as bituminous coal. FT-IR analysis showed that the absorbance band of ECS300 was considerably different from that of dried sludge (RS) or the carbonized sludge at 300 °C (CS300) but similar to that of coal, although the ash content absorbance band of 800-1200 cm⁻¹ was of very low intensity. The combustion profile showed that combustion of ESC300 occurred at a temperature higher than the ignition temperature (T_i) or maximum weight loss rate (DTG_max) of coal.     

Co-firing of coal and manure biomass: a TG-MS approach

Manure is a rich organic waste which, apart from its traditional use as a fertilizer, could be used as a bioenergy feedstock. In this sense, its utilization as a sole fuel or its co-combustion together with coal would be a choice for the management of this sort of biowaste. However, little is known about the behavior of this biowaste when submitted to high-temperature energy-conversion processes. Thus, the separate combustion of swine manure and coal and their co-combustion (10% dried weight of manure) were studied by simultaneous TG/MS dynamic runs. TG-MS analysis was successfully used as an easy rapid tool to assess the combustion of manure, alone or together with coal. Furthermore, non-isothermal kinetic analysis showed that the Arrhenius activation energy corresponding to the combustion of the blend (125.8-138.9 kJ/mol) was only slightly higher than that of manure (106.4-114.4 kJ/mol) or coal (107.0-119.6 kJ/mol).     

Pyrolysis and combustion behaviour of coal-MBM blends

In the present work, thermogravimetric analysis was employed in order to investigate the behaviour of MBM and their blends with Greek brown coal, under pyrolysis and combustion conditions. MBM presented enhanced pyrolysis rates reflecting its high volatile and low ash contents compared to Greek brown coal. Increased conversion rates were observed when MBM was added in the brown coal sample. Significant interactions were detected between the two fuel blend components leading to significant deviations from the expected behaviour. The catalytic effect of mineral matter on the pyrolysis of MBM resulted in reaction rate decrease and DTG curve shift to lower temperatures for the demineralised MBM. Alterations in the combustion process due to the mineral matter were minimal when testing the blends. Interactions maintained during combustion and lower reactivity of MBM was achieved due to the reduced oxygen content.     

Estimation of phosphorus bioavailability from composted organic wastes

Sewage sludge derived from municipal sewage treatment plants is an important source of macronutrients, micronutrients and organic matter. For this reason composting of sewage sludge, along with combustion and co-combustion, is a new management priority in Poland. In this study six composts of different origin and composition were evaluated in terms of their abundance in phosphorus, because it is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. Analyses were conducted on the samples at the initial and at the maturation phase of composting. The bioavailability of phosphorus was estimated on the basis of amounts of the nutrient in isolated fractions using the sequential extraction method. First of all quantitative changes of the total nutrient content and its amounts in separated fractions were dependent on the mixture composition. Irrespective of compost type, 34.5–75.0% of the total amounts of phosphorus were found in hardly available combinations (Fr. III), while available phosphorus forms (Fr. I) accounted for only 6.6–21.6%. As a result of composting together different organic wastes an increase was observed both in the total content and the amounts of this nutrient in separated fractions. This phenomenon was observed particularly in composts with smaller levels of sewage sludge (30–40%), characterised by rapid organic matter decomposition, which was indicated by higher bioavailable amounts of phosphorus. Under such conditions the content of P ranged between 3.68 and 7.4 g kg^?1. In comparison to the labile pool of P obtained for matured composts C5 and C6 (65 and 75% of sewage sludge in their composition) amounting to 2.45–3.0 g kg^?1 the above values were considerable. Bioavailable phosphorus contents potentially introduced to soil with composts doses calculated at 170 kg total N/ha/yr ranged from 69.8 to 80.2 kg for compost with the lowest share of sewage sludge and from 11.2 to 20.7 kg for compost with the highest share of sewage sludge.     

Impact of application of organic waste materials on microbial and enzyme activities of mine soils in the Lusatian coal mining region

The objective of the present work was to study the short-term stimulation of microbial and enzyme activity in mine soils by application of organic waste materials in lysimeter and mesocosm studies. The mine soils derived from tertiary and quaternary deposits were ameliorated with brown coal filter ash (tertiary deposits) and lime (quaternary deposits). At the beginning of recultivation the soils were treated with varying amounts of sewage sludge, coal sludge, composted sewage sludge and compost to a depth of 30 cm. In the first 2 years after application of organic waste materials we found a very low level of microbial properties especially in the sandy materials from quaternary deposits but a significant increase in microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration and enzyme activities like invertase and alkaline phosphatase with increasing application rates of sewage sludge, compost and sewage sludge mixed with coal sludge. This can be explained by an increase in organic matter and nutrient content of the soils and an improvement of soil physical properties such as water and nutrient retention capacity. Additionally it can be assumed, that constituents of the coal admixtures of tertiary deposits can be mineralised or converted by the soil microorganisms. In the tertiary materials ameliorated with brown coal ash the highest amounts of microbial and enzyme activities were measured after application of nitrogen-rich sewage sludge or very high amounts of mature compost mainly consisting of green waste. Compared with sewage sludge the stimulating effects of composted sewage sludge were quite lower because of organic matter fragmentation and a reduced energy and nutrient supply to soil microorganisms. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigations into the pyrolytic behaviour of coal/biomass blends using thermogravimetric analysis

Investigations into the pyrolytic behaviour during co-pyrolysis of coal, biomass materials and coal/biomass blends prepared at different ratios (10:90, 20:80, 30:70 and 50:50) have been conducted using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) apparatus. The coal sample selected was Collie sub-bituminous coal from Western Australia, while wood waste (WW) and wheat straw (WS) were used as biomass samples. Three thermal events were identified during the pyrolysis. The first two were dominated by the biomass pyrolysis, while the third was linked to the coal pyrolysis, which occurred at much higher temperatures. No interactions were seen between the coal and biomass during co-pyrolysis. The pyrolytic characteristics of the blends followed those of the parent fuels in an additive manner. Among the tested blends, 20:80 blends showed the lowest activation energies of 90.9 and 78.7 kJmol(-1) for coal/WW and coal/WS blends respectively. The optimum blend ratio for pyrolysis of coal/WS was 50:50 with a high degradation rate in all the thermal events and a higher mass loss over the course of the co-pyrolysis compared to coal/WW blends examined. The reaction orders in these experiments were in the range of 0.21-1.60, thus having a significant effect on the overall reaction rate. Besides the pyrolysis of coal alone, the 50:50 coal/biomass blends had the highest reaction rate, ranging 1x10(9)-2x10(9) min(-1). The experimental results may provide useful data for power generation industries for the development of co-firing options with biomass.     

Modelling of pyrolysis of coal-biomass blends using thermogravimetric analysis

The primary objective of this work was to develop an appropriate model to explain the co-pyrolysis behaviour of lignite coal-biomass blends with different proportions using a thermogravimetric analyzer. A new parallel-series kinetic model was proposed to predict the pyrolysis behaviour of biomass over the entire pyrolysis regime, while a kinetic model similar to that of Anthony and Howard [Anthony, D.B., Howard, J.B., 1976. Coal devolatilization and hydrogasification. AIChE Journal 22(4), 625-656] was used for pyrolysis of coal. Analysis of mass loss history of blends showed an absence of synergistic effect between coal and biomass. Co-pyrolysis mass-loss profiles of the blends were predicted using the estimated kinetic parameters of coal and biomass. Excellent agreement was found between the predicted and the experimental results.     

Kinetic studies of overlapping pyrolysis reactions in industrial waste activated sludge

A sludge pyrolytic kinetics model was established in this study. Two types of sewage sludge from different industrial wastewater treatment plant produced different DTG (Derivative Thermogravimetry) shapes with an overlapping pattern. The multi-heating rate method was conducted to evaluate the kinetics for obtaining reasonable pyrolysis mechanisms and DTG curves were divided into several peaks using the Lorentz fitting method based on the composition of the sludge and the desire for precision. The peaks formed corresponded to the pyrolysis reactions of volatile matter, microbe cells, proteins, inorganic substances and char respectively, which can be reasonably explained based on the results from the flue gas analyzer and the chemical analysis. Two types of sewage sludge were found to have similar pyrolysis mechanisms. Reasonable reasons were also given to explain the distortion and lag observed in the DTG curves and pyrolysis mechanism.     

构树的污泥适应性及养分和重金属吸收累积特征

构树是我国重要速生经济树种,具有适应性强、生物量大和重金属富集能力强等优点,而污泥中含有大量养分和重金属,在污泥中种植构树有望同时实现污泥生态修复和构树资源生产。本研究通过盆栽试验,分析在对照(赤红壤)、50%污泥(污泥、赤红壤混合基质,重量比各50%)和100%污泥基质中构树生长及不同部位(根、茎、叶)养分和重金属吸收累积特征,并通过主成分分析和隶属度函数对吸收累积能力进行综合评价。结果表明: 构树在50%和100%污泥中均可正常生长且株高、生物量显著高于对照,在100%污泥中长势最好,质量指数(1.02)分别是对照和50%污泥处理的4.3和2.4倍。50%和100%污泥处理构树各部位N含量和茎P含量显著高于对照,100%污泥处理构树茎、叶K含量显著低于对照。构树对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni的吸收部位以根为主,根系重金属含量与污泥比例呈正相关,叶Pb、Cd含量符合《饲料卫生标准》(GB 13078—2017)。构树对Cd的吸收累积效果好于其他重金属元素。与对照相比,50%和100%污泥处理构树根部Zn、Pb、Cd滞留率显著提高(57.8%~85.8%),100%污泥处理构树根部Cu、Ni滞留率显著提高(67.5%和74.8%)。污泥处理全株养分和重金属累积量均显著大于对照,其中100%污泥处理显著大于50%污泥处理。与50%污泥处理相比,100%污泥处理构树各部位及全株养分和重金属累积量大幅提高。不同处理下构树污泥适应性和元素吸收累积的综合评价得分为100%污泥(0.848)>50%污泥(0.344)>对照(0.080)。构树对污泥具有良好的适应性,在纯污泥中能够正常生长并具有较强的吸收累积养分和重金属能力,可在修复污泥的同时进行构树资源生产。     

污水污泥和造纸污泥干燥特性的对比研究

采用4种不同温度(30℃、70℃、102℃、130℃)及4种不同体表比(1.62cm²·g^-1、2.16cm²·g^-1、3.24cm²·g^-1、6.48cm²·g^-1)的污泥样品,对比研究了污水污泥和造纸污泥的干燥特性。结果表明:恒温干燥的温度越高,样品的比表面积越大,干燥时间越短。污泥失水率在10%之前,处于快速干燥阶段;污泥失水率在10%～60%之间,处于恒速干燥阶段;污泥失水率在大于60%时,处于降速干燥阶段。各阶段,污水污泥的失水速率比造纸污泥小0.01%·s^-1左右。     

Agricultural reclamation of disturbed soils in a lignite mining area using municipal and coal wastes: the humus situation at the beginning of reclamation

Soils disturbed by long-term opencast mining were treated with organic waste materials for reclamation. Humic substances were extracted from waste and soil samples and analysed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and electrofocusing. Furthermore, analytical pyrolysis permits to study all starting materials in situ. According to structural similarities, the statistical evaluation of the pyrolysis results clearly indicates three sample groups. The first group, called compost, implies the waste materials compost and composted sewage sludge. Moreover, pyrolysis revealed that coal humic substances are predominant in brown coal sludge, pure mine soils and mine soils treated with the different organic waste materials. They constitute the second group. The sewage sludge contains a high nitrogen potential, as expected, and represents the third group. Finally, pyrolysis generally showed the specific structural characteristics of humic and fulvic acids, respectively. Electrofocusing yielded for all samples a signal pattern that is typical of humic substances. However, number and ratio of the signals differ according to the special structural features of the samples. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Production of pyrolytic liquids from industrial sewage sludges in an induction-heating reactor

With the application of induction-heating, the pyrolytic experiments have been carried out for three sewage sludges from the food processing factories in an externally heated fixed-bed reactor. The thermochemical characteristics of sludge samples were first analyzed. The results indicated that the calorific value had about 15 MJ/kg on an average, suggesting that it had a potential for biomass energy source. However, its nitrogen concentration was relatively high. From the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves, it showed that the pyrolysis reaction can be almost finished in the temperature range of 450-750 degrees C. The yields of resulting liquid and char products from the pyrolysis of sewage sludge were discussed for examining the effects of pyrolysis temperature (500-800 degrees C), heating rate (200-500 degrees C/min), and holding time (1-8 min). Overall, the variation of yield was not so significant in the experimental conditions for three sewage sludges. All results of the resulting liquid products analyzed by elemental analyzer, pH meter, Karl-Fischer moisture titrator and bomb calorimeter were in consistence with those analyses by FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the pyrolysis liquid products contained large amounts of water (>73% by weight) mostly derived from the bound water in the biosludge feedstocks and the condensation reactions during the pyrolysis reaction, and fewer contents of oxygenated hydrocarbons composing of carbonyl and nitrogen-containing groups, resulting in low pH and low calorific values.     

The effect of sewage sludge flooding on growth and morphometric parameters of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel

Phragmites australis is the most frequently used species in constructed wetlands (CW) for dewatering and mineralization of sludge. Such CW create a very hostile environment for plants because their roots are exposed to permanently anaerobic conditions. Our working hypothesis assumed a simple relationship between the success of reed in colonising sludge flood stands and maximalisation of shoot oxygen production and transport to rhizomes and roots. Morphometric parameters and density of common reed shoots growing in reed bed systems inundated with sewage sludge were investigated. It was proved that flooding with sewage sludge significantly influenced characteristics of common reed populations. In comparison with natural stands, on stands treated with sewage sludge, maximal density of shoots was higher, biomass was twice as high, shoot diameter was significantly greater, and leaf weight ratio of an individual shoot was also significantly higher. Tendency to shorten shoots was noted. Growing period was longer for reed shoots treated with sewage sludge than on natural stands.     

Enumeration of pathogenic bacteria from sewage sludge in Kuwait

Domestic sewage in Kuwait is mainly treated by an activated sludge process. Sewage sludges at different treatment stages and the digested sludge were studied for their content of pathogenic bacteria. Two Gram-positive cocci and eight Gram-negative bacilli were isolated and enumerated in the sewage sludges and in raw sewage. During March, Aeromonas hydrophila was the dominant bacterium isolated. Serratia liquefaciens in raw sewage and sludge-2, and Salmonella species in digested sludge were dominant during April. Enterobacter aerogenes was dominant in sewage samples in May. Various types of bacteria isolated were tested for their sensitivity to a wide range of antibiotics.     

Adaptive changes of chemolithoautotrophic acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria during growth in sewage sludge

A chemolithoauthotrophic, acidophilic, sulfur-oxidizing strain was isolated from sewage sludge and identified as Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The morphology and physiology of the isolate grown in mineral medium or sterilized sewage sludge were investigated. Morphological and ultrastructural differences between cells grown in mineral medium and sewage sludge were clearly visible. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed some changes in the protein expression profiles in the periplasmic fraction as well as a lower level of cytochromes. Adaptation of A. thiooxidans to sewage sludge was not only a physiological process but also included genetic changes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed structural changes in chromosomal DNA of such bacteria. Most of the restriction fragments were highly conserved and shared by strains grown under different conditions. Cultivation in mineral medium did, however, lead to the appearance of an additional restriction fragment. In combination, the obtained results provide evidence of adaptive responses by A. thioxidans during growth in sewage sludge and confirm that this bacteria can be useful in biotechnologies of heavy metal bioleaching from different environments polluted with hazardous compounds.     

Terrestrial Chironomidae on agricultural soil treated with sewage sludge

Adult Chironomidae were caught in emergence traps for three subsequent years (1988–1990) on agricultural soil. Larvae were extracted from soil samples taken since June 1989. The field was subdivided into 5 plots treated with different amounts of sewage sludge. On some plots the sludge was artificially enriched with heavy metalts. The phenology of Chrinonomidae in the three years and their distribution over the different plots are discussed. The results suggest that the abundance of Chironomidae is increased by sewage sludge and appears to be also increased by heavy metals.     

Salmonella isolated in sewage sludge traced back to human cases of salmonellosis

AIM: The main aim of this study was to investigate a possible connection between the Salmonella content in sewage sludge and human cases of salmonellosis. An additional aim was to survey the antimicrobial resistance situation in Salmonella isolated from Swedish sewage sludge. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Salmonella strains were compared by restriction enzyme analysis combined with pulsed field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. This study suggests a link between Salmonella isolated from sewage sludge and human Salmonella isolates. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that Salmonella spp. isolated in sewage treatment plants (STP) originate from infected humans and survive treatment at STP. It also highlights the risk of spreading resistant Salmonella strains from sewage sludge to the environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: As Salmonella spp. originating from infected humans can survive the treatment at STP, the risk of Salmonella spp. being spread with sewage sludge to the environment and then to people and animals is enhanced. The threat to society is even worse if the bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents.     

The use of sewage sludge and horticultural waste to develop artificial soil for plant cultivation in Singapore

Greenhouse pot experiments were performed with Ipomoea aquatica (Kang Kong) to evaluate artificial soil produced from poor fertility subsoil, horticultural compost, and sewage sludge. The addition of horticultural compost and sewage sludge to subsoil substantially improved plant growth, improved the physical properties of subsoil and enriched subsoil by essential nutrients for plants. The effect was enhanced when the two ingredients were added to subsoil together. The highest yield of biomass of I. aquatica was observed in artificial soil prepared by mixing subsoil with 4% (wet weight/wet weight) of horticultural compost and 2% (dry weight/wet weight) of sewage sludge. The contents of heavy metals in plants, grown in the artificial soil, were significantly lower than toxic levels. The artificial soil could be recommended for urban landscaping and gardening in Singapore.     

Mobility and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and human adenovirus from spiked sewage sludge applied to soil columns

Aims:  This study investigated the survival and transport of sewage sludge-borne pathogenic organisms in soils.
Methods and Results:  Undisturbed soil cores were treated with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium- lux (STM- lux ) and human adenovirus (HAdV)-spiked sewage sludge. Following an artificial rainfall event, these pathogens were analysed in the leachate and soil sampled from different depths (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10–20 cm) after 24 h, 1 and 2 months. Significantly more STM- lux and HAdV leached through the soil cores when sewage sludge was present. Significantly more STM- lux were found at all soil depths, at all time periods in the sewage sludge treatments, compared to the controls. The rate of decline of STM- lux in the controls was more rapid than in the sewage sludge treatments. Survival and transport of HAdV were minimal.
Conclusions:  The presence of sewage sludge can significantly influence the transport and survival of bacterial pathogens in soils, probably because of the presence of organic matter. Environmental contamination by virus is unlikely because of strong soil adsorption.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study suggests that groundwater contamination from vertical movement of pathogens is a potential risk and that it highlights the importance of the treatment requirements for biosolids prior to their application to land.