IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v144y2021ics1364032121003567.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sludge-derived biochars: A review on the influence of synthesis conditions on pollutants removal efficiency from wastewaters

Author

Listed:
  • Jellali, Salah
  • Khiari, Besma
  • Usman, Muhammad
  • Hamdi, Helmi
  • Charabi, Yassine
  • Jeguirim, Mejdi

Abstract

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that permits the conversion of biomasses into energy (bio-oil and biogas) and a solid residue called biochar. The generation of biochar from lignocellulosic materials has been, for longtime, the predominant research focus. Wastewater treatment plants produce huge amounts of sludge biomass and there exists an increasing evidence for their possible reuse as a promising pyrolysis feedstock in recent literature. Though the valorization of biochars generated from lignocellulosic biomasses has been the subject of many reviews, there exists a critical knowledge gap regarding the effect of synthesis conditions of the sludge-derived biochars (SDBs) on their efficiency in the treatment of wastewater. This review critically analyzes the available literature related to SDBs characteristics and application to adsorb inorganic and organic pollutants from effluents. The physico-chemical properties and adsorption efficiency of SDBs are mainly tuned by the nature of raw sludge, pyrolysis conditions, and pre/post-treatments. Indeed, biochars originating from digested sludge have better adsorption capacities towards nutrients and heavy metals compared to those obtained from the non-digested sludge. The nutrients recovery from urban wastewater could be significantly improved when the raw sludge is mixed with lignocellulosic biomass and Mg/Ca rich materials. On the other hand, the chemical activation of sludge at reagent/sludge ratios higher than 2:1 permits to generate SDBs with adsorption capacities comparable and even better than commercial activated carbons. Moreover, the embedment/coating of SDBs with specific nanomaterials and tailored functional groups could significantly improve the adsorption capacities of various organic toxic pollutants and at the same time enhance their chemical degradation. The effect of the nature of target pollutants (organic or inorganic) on the underlying adsorption mechanisms by SDBs was also deeply reviewed. Finally, this paper provides the main application challenges as well as insights regarding the promising future directions for SDBs research and development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jellali, Salah & Khiari, Besma & Usman, Muhammad & Hamdi, Helmi & Charabi, Yassine & Jeguirim, Mejdi, 2021. "Sludge-derived biochars: A review on the influence of synthesis conditions on pollutants removal efficiency from wastewaters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:144:y:2021:i:c:s1364032121003567
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111068
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032121003567
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111068?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Azzaz, Ahmed Amine & Khiari, Besma & Jellali, Salah & Ghimbeu, Camélia Matei & Jeguirim, Mejdi, 2020. "Hydrochars production, characterization and application for wastewater treatment: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. Khiari, Besma & Jeguirim, Mejdi & Limousy, Lionel & Bennici, Simona, 2019. "Biomass derived chars for energy applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 253-273.
    3. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    4. Liu, Yang & Ran, Chunmei & Siddiqui, Azka R. & Siyal, Asif Ali & Song, Yongmeng & Dai, Jianjun & Chtaeva, Polina & Fu, Jie & Ao, Wenya & Deng, Zeyu & Jiang, Zhihui & Zhang, Tianhao, 2020. "Characterization and analysis of sludge char prepared from bench-scale fluidized bed pyrolysis of sewage sludge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    5. Tripathi, Manoj & Sahu, J.N. & Ganesan, P., 2016. "Effect of process parameters on production of biochar from biomass waste through pyrolysis: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 467-481.
    6. Kor-Bicakci, Gokce & Eskicioglu, Cigdem, 2019. "Recent developments on thermal municipal sludge pretreatment technologies for enhanced anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 423-443.
    7. Liu, Zhongzhe & Singer, Simcha & Tong, Yiran & Kimbell, Lee & Anderson, Erik & Hughes, Matthew & Zitomer, Daniel & McNamara, Patrick, 2018. "Characteristics and applications of biochars derived from wastewater solids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 650-664.
    8. Qambrani, Naveed Ahmed & Rahman, Md. Mukhlesur & Won, Seunggun & Shim, Soomin & Ra, Changsix, 2017. "Biochar properties and eco-friendly applications for climate change mitigation, waste management, and wastewater treatment: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 255-273.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Salah Jellali & Antonis A. Zorpas & Sulaiman Alhashmi & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2022. "Recent Advances in Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-6, September.
    2. Juan A. Conesa & Nuria Ortuño, 2022. "Reuse of Water Contaminated by Microplastics, the Effectiveness of Filtration Processes: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kung, Chih-Chun & Mu, Jianhong E., 2019. "Prospect of China's renewable energy development from pyrolysis and biochar applications under climate change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    3. Simone Marzeddu & Andrea Cappelli & Andrea Ambrosio & María Alejandra Décima & Paolo Viotti & Maria Rosaria Boni, 2021. "A Life Cycle Assessment of an Energy-Biochar Chain Involving a Gasification Plant in Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, November.
    4. Qiu, L. & Deng, Y.F. & Wang, F. & Davaritouchaee, M. & Yao, Y.Q., 2019. "A review on biochar-mediated anaerobic digestion with enhanced methane recovery," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    5. Malyan, Sandeep K. & Kumar, Smita S. & Fagodiya, Ram Kishor & Ghosh, Pooja & Kumar, Amit & Singh, Rajesh & Singh, Lakhveer, 2021. "Biochar for environmental sustainability in the energy-water-agroecosystem nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Li, Shuangjun & Yuan, Xiangzhou & Deng, Shuai & Zhao, Li & Lee, Ki Bong, 2021. "A review on biomass-derived CO2 adsorption capture: Adsorbent, adsorber, adsorption, and advice," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    7. Chang, Boon Peng & Rodriguez-Uribe, Arturo & Mohanty, Amar K. & Misra, Manjusri, 2021. "A comprehensive review of renewable and sustainable biosourced carbon through pyrolysis in biocomposites uses: Current development and future opportunity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    8. Tayibi, S. & Monlau, F. & Bargaz, A. & Jimenez, R. & Barakat, A., 2021. "Synergy of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis processes for sustainable waste management: A critical review and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    9. Han, Lanfang & Sun, Haoran & Sun, Ke & Yang, Yan & Fang, Liping & Xing, Baoshan, 2021. "Effect of Fe and Al ions on the production of biochar from agricultural biomass: Properties, stability and adsorption efficiency of biochar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    10. Kung, Chih-Chun & Fei, Chengcheng J. & McCarl, Bruce A. & Fan, Xinxin, 2022. "A review of biopower and mitigation potential of competing pyrolysis methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    11. Sebastian Paczkowski & Victoria Knappe & Marta Paczkowska & Luis Alonzo Diaz Robles & Dirk Jaeger & Stefan Pelz, 2021. "Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Treatment (HTT) Improves the Combustion Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice Willow Wood by Reducing Emission Precursors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Shukla, Parul & Giri, Balendu Shekhar & Mishra, Rakesh K. & Pandey, Ashok & Chaturvedi, Preeti, 2021. "Lignocellulosic biomass-based engineered biochar composites: A facile strategy for abatement of emerging pollutants and utilization in industrial applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    13. Dilvin Cebi & Melih Soner Celiktas & Hasan Sarptas, 2022. "A Review on Sewage Sludge Valorization via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Applications for Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    14. Ying, Zhi & Geng, Zhen & Zheng, Xiaoyuan & Dou, Binlin & Cui, Guomin, 2022. "Improving water electrolysis assisted by anodic biochar oxidation for clean hydrogen production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    15. Primaz, Carmem T. & Ribes-Greus, Amparo & Jacques, Rosângela A., 2021. "Valorization of cotton residues for production of bio-oil and engineered biochar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    16. Liu, Zhongzhe & Singer, Simcha & Tong, Yiran & Kimbell, Lee & Anderson, Erik & Hughes, Matthew & Zitomer, Daniel & McNamara, Patrick, 2018. "Characteristics and applications of biochars derived from wastewater solids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 650-664.
    17. Qin, Fanzhi & Zhang, Chen & Zeng, Guangming & Huang, Danlian & Tan, Xiaofei & Duan, Abing, 2022. "Lignocellulosic biomass carbonization for biochar production and characterization of biochar reactivity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    18. Kumar N, Sasi & Grekov, Denys & Pré, Pascaline & Alappat, Babu J., 2020. "Microwave mode of heating in the preparation of porous carbon materials for adsorption and energy storage applications – An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    19. Wan Adibah Wan Mahari & Nur Fatihah Zainuddin & Wan Mohd Norsani Wan Nik & Cheng Tung Chong & Su Shiung Lam, 2016. "Pyrolysis Recovery of Waste Shipping Oil Using Microwave Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-9, September.
    20. Cheng Huang & Xiuyun Sun & Lianjun Wang & Paul Storer & Kadambot H. M. Siddique & Zakaria M. Solaiman, 2021. "Nutrients Leaching from Tillage Soil Amended with Wheat Straw Biochar Influenced by Fertiliser Type," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-13, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:144:y:2021:i:c:s1364032121003567. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.