Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synergistic effects on co-pyrolysis and co-combustion of sludge and coal investigated by thermogravimetric analysis

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

Abstract

Thermal characteristics and kinetics of sewage sludge (SS), lignite coal, and their blends (25 and 50% of SS) in pyrolysis and combustion processes were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA was carried out at different heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 K min−1 under inert and air atmospheres. Kinetics were calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Starink, and Vyazovkin models by using TGA data. The deviation between the experimental and calculated values of mass loss, residual fraction, and activation energy was determined to highlight the synergistic effect between SS and coal. The results indicated that both mixtures influenced the initial and final temperatures of reactions. Mass loss of the mixtures during pyrolysis was not significantly influenced by the SS proportion, however, the residual fraction was influenced by the mixtures during pyrolysis and combustion. Blend of 50% SS with the smaller activation energy (Ea) compared to 25% SS was the most suitable for bioenergy production in pyrolysis, whereas in combustion 25% SS with small Ea was the most promising. On the other hand, 100% SS had the smallest Ea in both processes, indicating the optimum bioenergy source.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

References

  1. Chen GB, Chatelier S, Lin HT, Wu FH, Lin TH. A study of sewage sludge co-combustion with Australian black coal and shiitake substrate. Energies. 2019;11(12):3436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Niu S, Chen M, Li Y, Song J. Co-combustion characteristics of municipal sewage sludge and bituminous coal. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2018;131(2):1821–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Adar E, Karatop B, İnce M, Bilgili MS. Comparison of methods for sustainable energy management with sewage sludge in Turkey based on SWOT-FAHP analysis. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2016;62:429–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lin Y, Liao Y, Yu Z, Fang S, Ma X. The investigation of co-combustion of sewage sludge and oil shale using thermogravimetric analysis. Thermochim Acta. 2017;653:71–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Vassilev SV, Baxter D, Andersen LK, Vassileva CG, Morgan TJ. An overview of the organic and inorganic phase composition of biomass. Fuel. 2012;94:1–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Vamvuka D, Sfakiotakis S, Saxioni S. Evaluation of urban wastes as promising co-fuels for energy production—a TG/MS study. Fuel. 2015;147:170–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Xiao H, Ma X, Liu K. Co-combustion kinetics of sewage sludge with coal and coal gangue under different atmospheres. Energy Convers Manag. 2010;51(10):1976–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Xia JQ, Li HP. Co-pyrolysis charateristics study of Dianchi Lake sludge and coal. Adv Mater Res. 2014;860:518–21.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Xiao P, Xu L, Wang X, Chang Z. Co-pyrolysis characteristics of coal and sludge blends using thermogravimetric analysis. Environ Prog Sustain Energy. 2015;34(6):1780–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang J, Chen T, Wu J, Wu J. Multi-Gaussian-DAEM-reaction model for thermal decompositions of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin: comparison of N2 and CO2 atmosphere. Bioresour Technol. 2014;166:87–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Biagini E, Lippi F, Petarca L, Tognotti L. Devolatilization rate of biomasses and coal–biomass blends: an experimental investigation. Fuel. 2002;81(8):1041–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Otero M, Dıez C, Calvo LF, Garcıa AI, Moran A. Analysis of the co-combustion of sewage sludge and coal by TG-MS. Biomass Bioenergy. 2002;22(4):319–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Folgueras MB, Dı́az RM, Xiberta J, Prieto I. Thermogravimetric analysis of the co-combustion of coal and sewage sludge. Fuel. 2003;82(15):2051–2055.

  14. Ninomiya Y, Zhang L, Sakano T, Kanaoka C, Masui M. Transformation of mineral and emission of particulate matters during co-combustion of coal with sewage sludge. Fuel. 2004;83:751–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen J, Mu L, Cai J, Yin H, Song X, Li A. Thermal characteristics and kinetics of refining and chemicals wastewater, lignite and their blends during combustion. Energy Convers Manag. 2015;100:201–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. He C, Tang C, Liu W, Dai L, Qiu R. Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and hydrochar with coals: Pyrolytic behaviors and kinetics analysis using TG-FTIR and a discrete distributed activation energy model. Energy Convers Manag. 2020;203:112226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ozawa T. A new method of analyzing thermogravimetric data. Bull Chem Soc Jpn. 1965;38:1881–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Doyle CD. Estimating isothermal life from thermogravimetric data. J Appl Polym Sci. 1962;6:639–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Flynn JH, Wall LA. A quick, direct method for the determination of activation energy from thermogravimetric data. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Lett. 1966;4:323–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vyazovkin S, Wight CA. Isothermal and non-isothermal kinetics of thermally stimulated reactions of solids. Int Rev Phys Chem. 1998;17:407–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Vyazovkin S, Wight CA. Model-free and model-fitting approaches to kinetic analysis of isothermal and nonisothermal data. Thermochim Acta. 1999;340:53–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Starink MJ. A new method for the derivation of activation energies from experiments performed at constant heating rate. Thermochim Acta. 1996;288:97–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Naqvi SR, Tariq R, Hameed Z, Ali I, Naqvi M, Chen WH, Ceylan S, Rashid H, Ahmad J, Taqvi SA, Shahbaz M. Pyrolysis of high ash sewage sludge: Kinetics and thermodynamic analysis using Coats-Redfern method. Renew Energy. 2019;131:854–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hernandez AB, Okonta F, Freeman N. Thermal decomposition of sewage sludge under N2, CO2 and air: Gas characterization and kinetic analysis. J Environ Manag. 2017;196:560–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Otero M, Calvo LF, Gil MV, García AI, Morán A. Co-combustion of different sewage sludge and coal: a non-isothermal thermogravimetric kinetic analysis. Bioresour Technol. 2008;99(14):6311–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang, Y., Zhang, L., Duan, F., Jiang, X., Sun, X., Chyang. Co-combustion characteristics of sewage sludge with different rank bituminous coals under the O2/CO2 atmosphere. J Therm Anal Calorimy. 2015;121(2):729–736.

  27. Qu X, Zhou G, Cao Y, Li P, He Y, Zhang J. Synergetic effect on the combustion of lignite blended with humus: Thermochemical characterization and kinetics. Appl Therm Eng. 2019;152:137–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Merdun H, Laougé ZB. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses during co-pyrolysis of greenhouse wastes and coal by TGA. Renew Energy. 2021;163:453–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Li H, Li Y, Jin Y. Co-combustion analyses of coal and sewage sludge with high moisture content. Energy Sour Part A Recov Util Environ Eff. 2015;37(17):1896–903.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Tahir MH, Zhao Z, Ren J, Rasool T, Naqvi SR. Thermo-kinetics and gaseous product analysis of banana peel pyrolysis for its bioenergy potential. Biomass Bioenergy. 2019;2019(122):193–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Li H, Li YY, Jin YY. Analyses of coal and sewage sludge co-combustion using Coats-Redfern model. Adv Mater Res. 2012;518:3271–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Cai H, Liu J, Kuo J, Buyukada M, Evrendilek F. Thermal characteristics, kinetics, gas emissions and thermodynamic simulations of (co-) combustions of textile dyeing sludge and waste tea. J Clean Prod. 2019;239:118113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Division of Akdeniz University with the project number of FBA-2018-3512.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey

    Hasan Merdun, Zakari Boubacar Laougé & Aslı Seyhan Çığgın

Authors
  1. Hasan Merdun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zakari Boubacar Laougé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aslı Seyhan Çığgın
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hasan Merdun.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

It is declared that authors have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Merdun, H., Laougé, Z.B. & Çığgın, A.S. Synergistic effects on co-pyrolysis and co-combustion of sludge and coal investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim 146, 2623–2637 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-10608-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-10608-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation