IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v12y2022i3p360-d763003.html

Utilization of Sewage Sludge-Derived Pyrogenic Material as a Promising Soil Amendment

Author

Listed:
  • Vladimír Frišták

    (Department of Chemistry, Trnava University in Trnava, 91843 Trnava, Slovakia)

  • Martin Pipíška

    (Department of Chemistry, Trnava University in Trnava, 91843 Trnava, Slovakia)

  • Dominika Koperová

    (Department of Chemistry, Trnava University in Trnava, 91843 Trnava, Slovakia)

  • Reinhard Jagerhofer

    (Energy Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 3430 Tulln, Austria
    Institute for Chemical and Energy Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Gerhard Soja

    (Energy Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 3430 Tulln, Austria
    Institute for Chemical and Energy Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Stephen M. Bell

    (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

The use of advanced treatment technologies such as pyrolysis and carbonization of bio-waste materials has the promise to develop coupled solutions for organic C and P problems in the future of food processing. Sewage sludge-derived pyrogenic materials that are applied to the soil system contain notable levels of P (1–20%). However, only a small portion of total phosphorus is available for plants. Therefore, our study assessed the pretreatment of sewage sludge with Na 2 CO 3 and subsequent pyrolysis at 400 °C and 500 °C for the production of MPCM400 and MPCM500 as potential alternatives for inorganic P fertilizers. Non-pretreated sewage sludge-derived pyrogenic carbonaceous materials (PCM400 and PCM500) were produced as controls. The derived materials obtained by slow pyrolysis at a residence time of 120 min and pyrolysis temperatures of 400 °C and 500 °C, were analyzed by determination of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, elemental analysis of total C, H, N, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and total concentrations of P, Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn. PCM400, PCM500, MPCM400 and MPCM500 were characterized by analysis of total 16 US-EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) PAHs by a toluene extraction procedure. Additionally, PCM400, PCM500, MPCM400 and MPCM500 were tested by a germination test with cress seeds ( Lepidium sativum L.) and a short-term rye seedling test. Total C concentrations were raised in the order: MPCM500 < MPCM400 < PCM500 < PCM500. Concentration of Σ16 US-EPA PAHs was almost five times higher at PCM500 (21.87 mg/kg) compared to PCM400 (4.38 mg/kg) and three times higher at MPCM500 (23.12 mg/kg) compared to MPCM400 (7.55 mg/kg) with a dominant role of two and three-ring aromatic structures. Total P-concentrations in rye biomass increased in the order for the controls: (2.43 ± 0.95 mg/g) < PCM400 (3.57 ± 0.27 mg/g) < PCM500 (4.04 ± 0.24 mg/g) < MPCM400 (5.23 ± 0.09 mg/g) < MPCM500 (5.57 ± 0.70 mg/g) < IF (7.53 ± 2.65 mg/g). Obtained results showed that pyrolysis materials produced from sewage sludge represent a potential alternative of conventional P inorganic fertilizers and organic C suppliers.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladimír Frišták & Martin Pipíška & Dominika Koperová & Reinhard Jagerhofer & Gerhard Soja & Stephen M. Bell, 2022. "Utilization of Sewage Sludge-Derived Pyrogenic Material as a Promising Soil Amendment," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:3:p:360-:d:763003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/3/360/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/3/360/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael W. I. Schmidt & Margaret S. Torn & Samuel Abiven & Thorsten Dittmar & Georg Guggenberger & Ivan A. Janssens & Markus Kleber & Ingrid Kögel-Knabner & Johannes Lehmann & David A. C. Manning & Pa, 2011. "Persistence of soil organic matter as an ecosystem property," Nature, Nature, vol. 478(7367), pages 49-56, October.
    2. Julian I. Schroeder & Emmanuel Delhaize & Wolf B. Frommer & Mary Lou Guerinot & Maria J. Harrison & Luis Herrera-Estrella & Tomoaki Horie & Leon V. Kochian & Rana Munns & Naoko K. Nishizawa & Yi-Fang , 2013. "Using membrane transporters to improve crops for sustainable food production," Nature, Nature, vol. 497(7447), pages 60-66, May.
    3. Kwon, Eilhann E. & Lee, Taewoo & Ok, Yong Sik & Tsang, Daniel C.W. & Park, Chanhyuk & Lee, Jechan, 2018. "Effects of calcium carbonate on pyrolysis of sewage sludge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 726-731.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Akinpelu, O.A. & Olaleye, O. & Fagbola, O., . "The Soil Organic Matter Decomposers: A Bibliometric Analysis," International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, Malwa International Journals Publication, vol. 9(4).
    2. Hang Guo & Linxian Liao & Junzeng Xu & Wenyi Wang & Peng Chen & Zhihui Min & Yajun Luan & Yu Han & Keke Bao, 2025. "Dual Role of Iron Oxides in Stabilizing Particulate and Mineral-Associated Organic Carbon Under Field Management in Paddies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Shizhao Zhang & Shuzhi Wang & Jiayong Zhang & Bao Wang & Hui Wang & Liwei Liu & Chong Cao & Muyang Shi & Yuhan Liu, 2025. "Research on the Application of Biochar in Carbon Sequestration: A Bibliometric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-31, May.
    4. Mlonka-Mędrala, Agata & Sobek, Szymon & Wądrzyk, Mariusz & Werle, Sebastian & Ionescu, Gabriela & Mărculescu, Cosmin & Magdziarz, Aneta, 2025. "Energy and material recovery from bone waste: Steam gasification for biochar and syngas production in a circular economy framework," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    5. Guoai Li & Xuxu Chai & Zheng Shi & Honghua Ruan, 2023. "Interactive Effects Determine Radiocarbon Abundance in Soil Fractions of Global Biomes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    6. Isabel Teichmann, 2015. "An Economic Assessment of Soil Carbon Sequestration with Biochar in Germany," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1476, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    7. Gonzalo Almendros & José A. González-Pérez, 2025. "Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Mechanisms and the Chemical Nature of Soil Organic Matter—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Miquelajauregui, Yosune & Cumming, Steven G. & Gauthier, Sylvie, 2019. "Short-term responses of boreal carbon stocks to climate change: A simulation study of black spruce forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 409(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Rafaella Campos & Gabrielle Ferreira Pires & Marcos Heil Costa, 2020. "Soil Carbon Sequestration in Rainfed and Irrigated Production Systems in a New Brazilian Agricultural Frontier," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Yuxuan Li & Siyue Feng & Lin Wang & Chencen Lei & Hongbo Peng & Xinhua He & Dandan Zhou & Fangfang Li, 2024. "Improvement and Stability of Soil Organic Carbon: The Effect of Earthworm Mucus Organo-Mineral Associations with Montmorillonite and Hematite," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Huanjun Qi & Jinyin Lei & Jinqin He & Jian Wang & Xiaoting Lei & Jianxin Jin & Lina Zhou, 2025. "Response of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Rate, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Corn Yield to Different Exogenous Carbon Inputs in Rainfed Farmlands of the Ningnan Mountainous Area, Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, August.
    12. Aaron Sobbe & Valentina Brombin & Enzo Rizzo & Gianluca Bianchini, 2025. "Saline Peatland Degradation in the Mezzano Lowland: 66 Years of Agricultural Impacts on Carbon and Soil Biogeochemistry," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, August.
    13. Jiuming Zhang & Jiahui Yuan & Yingxue Zhu & Enjun Kuang & Jiaye Han & Yanxiang Shi & Fengqin Chi & Dan Wei & Jie Liu, 2024. "Transformation and Sequestration of Total Organic Carbon in Black Soil under Different Fertilization Regimes with Straw Carbon Inputs," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, June.
    14. Yajin Hu & Penghui Ma & Zhihao Yang & Siyuan Liu & Yingchao Li & Ling Li & Tongchao Wang & Kadambot H. M. Siddique, 2025. "The Responses of Crop Yield and Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Straw Returning from Staple Crops: A Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    15. Goncharov, Anton A. & Gorbatova, Anna S. & Sidorova, Alena A. & Tiunov, Alexei V. & Bocharov, Gennady A., 2022. "Mathematical modelling of the interaction of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Fusarium species (Fusarium spp.)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 465(C).
    16. Duoxun Xu & Yongkang Ding & Yuchen Yan & Jianli Qian & Qianzhuo Zhao & Anquan Xia, 2025. "Soil Inorganic Carbon Content and Its Environmental Controls in the Weibei Loess Region: A Random Forest-Based Spatial Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Carolina Restrepo Londoño & Alexander Giraldo Gil & Andrés Moreno & Pedro Nel Alvarado, 2024. "Valorization of Spent Mushroom Compost Through a Cascading Use Aproach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-26, October.
    18. Rizki Maftukhah & Katharina M. Keiblinger & Ngadisih Ngadisih & Murtiningrum Murtiningrum & Rosana M. Kral & Axel Mentler & Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, 2023. "Post-Tin-Mining Agricultural Soil Regeneration Using Local Organic Amendments Improve Nitrogen Fixation and Uptake in a Legume–Cassava Intercropping System," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Muhammad Israr Khan & Moaiz Ur Rehman & Rubab Sarfraz & Ali Fakhar & Gil Won Kim, 2026. "Potential of mycorrhizal fungi in soil C sequestration under climate change scenario: current research and prospects," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 1-23, January.
    20. Liu, Jieyun & Qiu, Husen & He, Shuai & Tian, Guangli, 2024. "Long-term mulched drip irrigation facilitates soil organic carbon stabilization and the dominance of microbial stochastic assembly processes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:3:p:360-:d:763003. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.