Bio-oil production from dry sewage sludge by fast pyrolysis in an electrically-heated fluidized bed reactor

• Main Authors: Renato O. Arazo, Divine Angela D. Genuino, Mark Daniel G. de Luna, Sergio C. Capareda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-01-01
• Series: Sustainable Environment Research
• Subjects: Sewage sludge; Biofuel; Fluidized bed reactor; Fast pyrolysis; Response surface methodology
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468203916300875

The optimization of bio-oil produced from sewage sludge using fast pyrolysis in a fluidized bed reactor was investigated. Effects of temperature, sludge particle size and vapor residence time on bio-oil properties, such as yield, high heating value (HHV) and moisture content were evaluated through experimental and statistical analyses. Characterization of the pyrolysis products (bio-oil and biogas) was also done. Optimum conditions produced a bio-oil product with an HHV that is nearly twice as much as lignocellulosic-derived bio-oil, and with properties comparable to heavy fuel oil. Contrary to generally acidic bio-oil, the sludge-derived bio-oil has almost neutral pH which could minimize the pipeline and engine corrosions. The Fourier Transform Infrared and gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses of bio-oil showed a dominant presence of gasoline-like compounds. These results demonstrate that fast pyrolysis of sewage sludge from domestic wastewater treatment plant is a favorable technology to produce biofuels for various applications.