Direct thermochemical conversion of sewage sludge to fuel oil

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6314534

Molton, P M; Fassbender, A G; Brown, M D

A disposal method for primary sewage sludge and industrial sludges which generates boiler fuel as a product and is energy self-sufficient or energy-generating is described. The method involves direct liquefaction in a mild aqueous alkali above 250 C and was demonstrated for about 100 hours in a reactor having a 50 pound per hour capacity. The boiler fuels recovered from the process were in the form of a water-insoluble oil, char, and gas and contained up to 73% of the energy from the input sludge. Analytical results show that most of the heavy metals from the sludge are concentrated in the char and remain in the ash residue when the char is burned. Burning the oil and char as fuel will generate gaseous pollutants from sulfur and nitrogen in the sludge which could be a problem in commercial versions of the process.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6314534
• Report Number(s): PB-85-247534/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
FUEL OILS
PRODUCTION
SEWAGE SLUDGE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
COMBUSTION
LIQUEFACTION
PYROLYSIS
RECYCLING
WASTE DISPOSAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
FUELS
LIQUID FUELS
MANAGEMENT
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)