Skip to main content
Log in

Sewage sludge coke estimation using thermal analysis

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The imposition of more stringent legislation by CETESB in the State of São Paulo (Brazil) governing the disposal and utilization of sewage sludge, coupled with the growth in its generation has prompted a drive for alternative uses of sewage sludge. One option that is especially promising, due to its potential to valorize sludge, is its conversion into carbonaceous adsorbents or coke for industrial effluents treatment. Thus, a methodology is presented to estimate the coke produced from the sludge of a sewage treatment station using thermal analysis. The used sewage sludge, which comes from aerobic treatment, was collected in the wastewater treatment station of Barueri, one of the largest of the São Paulo metropolitan area. The sludge samples were collected, dried, ground, and milled until they passed an ABNT 200 sieve. The inert ambient used during its thermal treatment produces inorganic matter and coke as residual materials. Coke formation occurs in the 200–500 °C range and, between 500 and 900 °C, its thermal decomposition occurs. The highest formation of coke occurs at 500 °C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rio S, Faur-Brasquet L, Coq L, Cloirec LP. Structure characterization and adsorption properties of pyrolized sewage sludge. Environ Sci Technol. 2005;39(11):4249–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Shen W, Guo Q, Wang H, Yang X, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Product composition of pyrolized sewage sludge and adsorption of methylene blue by porous material derived from it. Environ Eng Sci. 2008;25(1):99–105.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dweck J, Morais LC, Fonseca MVA, Campos V, Buchler PM. Calcined sludge sintering evaluation by heating microscopy thermal analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2009;95:985–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Vogel C, Adam C, Unger M. Heavy metal removal from sewage sludge ash analyzed by thermogravimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2010. doi:10.1007/s10973-010-0966-7.

  5. Hossain MK, Strezov V, Nelson PF. Thermal characterization of the products of wastewater sludge pyrolysis. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis. 2009;85:442–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Capana AS, Martins QV, Crespi MS, Ribeiro CA, Barud HS. Thermal behavior of residues (sludge) originated from Araraquara water and sewage treatment station. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2009;97:601–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gonçalves MC. The question of sludge produced in sewage treatment plants in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, 2007. http://www.cetesb.sp.gov.br/noticentro/2007/10/sabesp.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan 2010.

  8. Otero M, Gómez X, Garcia AI, Morán A. Non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of the combustion of two different carbonaceous materials: coal and sewage sludge. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2008;93:619–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ischiam M, Perazolli C, Maschio R, Campostrini R. Pyrolysis study of sewage by TG-MS and TG-GC-MS coupled analyses. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2007;87:567–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Otero M, Sanchez ME, Garcia AI, Morán A. Simultaneous thermogravimetric–mass spectrometric study on the combustion of coal and sewage sludges. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2006;86:489–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ferreras JF, Posadas HG, Gutierrez JLR, Omaechevarría JR. Use of ash from sewage sludge in the preparation of desulfurant sorbents. J Chem Reac Eng. 2010;8:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mocelin C. Sewage sludge pyrolysis: Production of adsorbent and fuel oils, MSc Dissertation-Post-graduate in Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Federal Technological University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil, 2007.

  13. Ischia M, Maschio R, Grigiante M, Baratieri M. Clay-sewage sludge co-pyrolysis. A TG-MS study on potential advantages afforded by the presence of clay in the pyrolysis of wastewater sewage sludge. Waste Manag. 2011;31:71–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Martín MJ, Serra E, Ros A, Balaguer MD, Rigola M. Activated carbons developed from surplus sewage sludge for the removal of dyes from dilute aqueous solutions. J Chem Eng. 2003;94(3):231–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Otero M, Rozada F, Morán A, Calvo LF, García AI. Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by sewage sludge based sorbents: competitive effects. Desalination. 2009;239:46–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Brown ME, Gallagher PK. Handbook of thermal analysis and calorimetry. Principles and practice. V. 1. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dweck J, Morais LC, Menezes JC, Buchler PM. Thermal analysis of municipal sludge waste combustion. Mater Sci Forum. 2006;530–531:740–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Morais LC, Dweck J, Gonçalves EM, Buchler PM. A case study of the ceramic matrix sintering of sewage sludge when fired at high temperatures. Mater Sci Forum. 2006;530–531:734–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Dweck J. Qualitative and quantitative characterization of Brazilian natural and organophilic clays by thermal analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2008;92(1):129–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kok MV, Kloss-Smykatz W. Thermal characterization of dolomites. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2001;64:1271–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Samtani M, Dollimore D, Alexander KS. Comparison of dolomite decomposition kinetics with related carbonates and the effect of procedural variables on its kinetic parameters. Therm Acta. 2002;392–393:135–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education), FAPESP (the State of São Paulo Research Foundation), and CNPq (Brazilian National Council of Scientific and Technological Development) for the financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcelo Mendes Viana.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Viana, M.M., Melchert, M.B.M., de Morais, L.C. et al. Sewage sludge coke estimation using thermal analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim 106, 437–443 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1392-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1392-1

Keywords

Navigation