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Comprehensive assessment of sludge wet air oxidation and its combination with anaerobic digestion

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  • Liu, Jiayi
  • Li, Debin
  • Wang, Lin
  • Li, Huan
  • Deng, Zhou

Abstract

Wet air oxidation (WAO) is a promising sludge treatment technology but has yet to be used widely. This study evaluates a new integrated pathway of AD plus WAO, juxtaposing against the standalone AD and WAO, from the aspects of carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and cost-benefits. The assessment unit is 1 t dewatered sludge with a water content of 80 %, and the greenhouse gases are converted to equivalent CO2. WAO can recover the thermal heat released from organic oxidation, resulting in the lowest carbon emissions, 10.92 to −36.86 kg CO2-eq/t. AD plus WAO also performs well with 32.21 to −48.16 kg CO2-eq/t. All three ways can produce renewable energy through biogas utilization or thermal recovery. WAO has the highest energy efficiency of 35%–42 % due to efficient thermal energy recovery, and AD plus WAO has a second-ranked efficiency of 15%–30 %. However, WAO needs expensive facilities and external electricity, resulting in a higher expenditure than AD. The integrated systems also require a high investment, but can simplify digested sludge treatment. According to the normalized scores in the three aspects, WAO is recommended chiefly, especially for treating low-organic-content sludge. AD plus WAO ranked second and can be used for high-organic-content sludge.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Jiayi & Li, Debin & Wang, Lin & Li, Huan & Deng, Zhou, 2024. "Comprehensive assessment of sludge wet air oxidation and its combination with anaerobic digestion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:237:y:2024:i:pb:s0960148124018536
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121785
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Huan & Jin, Chang & Zhang, Zhanying & O'Hara, Ian & Mundree, Sagadevan, 2017. "Environmental and economic life cycle assessment of energy recovery from sewage sludge through different anaerobic digestion pathways," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 649-657.
    2. Liao, Xiaocong & Li, Huan, 2015. "Biogas production from low-organic-content sludge using a high-solids anaerobic digester with improved agitation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 252-259.
    3. Chae, Kyu-Jung & Ren, Xianghao, 2016. "Flexible and stable heat energy recovery from municipal wastewater treatment plants using a fixed-inverter hybrid heat pump system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 565-574.
    4. Zhang, Yangyang & Li, Huan & Li, Debin, 2021. "Maximize methane recovery from sludge anaerobic digestion by combining an optimal wet air oxidation process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 359-369.
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