IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i17p6188-d897907.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving Kraft Pulp Mill Energy Efficiency through Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biological Sludge

Author

Listed:
  • Jussi Saari

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • Ekaterina Sermyagina

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • Katja Kuparinen

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • Satu Lipiäinen

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • Juha Kaikko

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • Marcelo Hamaguchi

    (Biomaterials Division, Stora Enso Oyj, 55400 Imatra, Finland)

  • Clara Mendoza-Martinez

    (Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
    Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil)

Abstract

Of the various waste and side streams created in a kraft pulp mill, the biological sludges from the wastewater treatment plant are some of the most problematic to handle. Incineration is becoming a common solution as landfilling is no longer permitted by legislation in many countries, but this is also problematic due to the high moisture content, poor drying characteristics, and high ash content in the solids. This study evaluates the technical potential of mild hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at 160 °C for 3 h to improve the energy efficiency of on-site incineration as a biosludge handling method. HTC treatment transforms wet organic substrates into a hydrophobic carbonaceous material (hydrochar). The heating value and elemental composition of both the sludge and the hydrochar product were analyzed. Based on this, a hydrothermal carbonization model developed earlier was adjusted for the feedstock, and process integration modelling performed to evaluate the performance impact on the power and heat generation at the mill. The results indicate that if the alternative is combustion in the power boiler, HTC pre-treatment could allow a significant increase in power generation. If the sludge is combusted in the recovery boiler, a practice often avoided in order to not introduce non-process elements to the chemical recovery cycle but sometimes necessary due to, e.g., absence of a power boiler, a much smaller increase is obtained. The increase is smallest if the freed evaporator plant capacity cannot be utilized for increasing the firing liquor dry solids content.

Suggested Citation

  • Jussi Saari & Ekaterina Sermyagina & Katja Kuparinen & Satu Lipiäinen & Juha Kaikko & Marcelo Hamaguchi & Clara Mendoza-Martinez, 2022. "Improving Kraft Pulp Mill Energy Efficiency through Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biological Sludge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:17:p:6188-:d:897907
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/17/6188/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/17/6188/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jussi Saari & Ekaterina Sermyagina & Juha Kaikko & Markus Haider & Marcelo Hamaguchi & Esa Vakkilainen, 2021. "Evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential through Back-End Heat Recovery in the Kraft Recovery Boiler," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. do Carmo Precci Lopes, Alice & Mudadu Silva, Cláudio & Pereira Rosa, André & de Ávila Rodrigues, Fábio, 2018. "Biogas production from thermophilic anaerobic digestion of kraft pulp mill sludge," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 40-49.
    3. Clara Lisseth Mendoza Martinez & Ekaterina Sermyagina & Esa Vakkilainen, 2021. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Chemical and Biological Pulp Mill Sludges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Katja Kuparinen & Esa Vakkilainen & Tero Tynjälä, 2019. "Biomass-based carbon capture and utilization in kraft pulp mills," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 1213-1230, October.
    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. Jussi Saari & Petteri Peltola & Katja Kuparinen & Juha Kaikko & Ekaterina Sermyagina & Esa Vakkilainen, 2023. "Novel BECCS implementation integrating chemical looping combustion with oxygen uncoupling and a kraft pulp mill cogeneration plant," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 1-26, April.
    2. Anna Denysenko & Romaniia Cheropkina, 2023. "Characteristics of black liquor after alkaline delignification of paulownia wood," Technology audit and production reserves, PC TECHNOLOGY CENTER, vol. 6(3(74)), pages 12-17, December.
    3. Lindomar Matias Gonçalves & Clara Mendoza-Martinez & Elém Patrícia Alves Rocha & Eduardo Coutinho de Paula & Marcelo Cardoso, 2023. "Solar Drying of Sludge from a Steel-Wire-Drawing Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Jagu Schippers, Emma & Massol, Olivier, 2022. "Unlocking CO2 infrastructure deployment: The impact of carbon removal accounting," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    5. Katja Kuparinen & Satu Lipiäinen & Esa Vakkilainen & Timo Laukkanen, 2023. "Effect of biomass-based carbon capture on the sustainability and economics of pulp and paper production in the Nordic mills," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 648-668, January.
    6. Lim, Jonghun & Kim, Junghwan, 2022. "Optimizing ash deposit removal system to maximize biomass recycling as renewable energy for CO2 reduction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1006-1017.
    7. Satu Lipiäinen & Esa Vakkilainen, 2021. "Role of the Finnish forest industry in mitigating global change: energy use and greenhouse gas emissions towards 2035," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Egwu, Uchenna & Oko, Eni & Ndukwu, Macmanus Chinenye & Sallis, Paul, 2021. "Novel low-cost pre-treatment material for enhancing the methane yield during anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks: Experimental and kinetic study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 584-592.
    9. Jussi Saari & Ekaterina Sermyagina & Juha Kaikko & Markus Haider & Marcelo Hamaguchi & Esa Vakkilainen, 2021. "Evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential through Back-End Heat Recovery in the Kraft Recovery Boiler," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    10. 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.
    11. Nwaoha, Chikezie & Tontiwachwuthikul, Paitoon, 2019. "Carbon dioxide capture from pulp mill using 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and monoethanolamine blend: Techno-economic assessment of advanced process configuration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1202-1216.
    12. Mosleh Uddin, Md & Wen, Zhiyou & Mba Wright, Mark, 2022. "Techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of using corn stover biochar for manure derived renewable natural gas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    13. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Foley, Aoife M. & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry: A critical and systematic review of sociotechnical developments and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    14. Bello, Sara & Galán-Martín, Ángel & Feijoo, Gumersindo & Moreira, Maria Teresa & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2020. "BECCS based on bioethanol from wood residues: Potential towards a carbon-negative transport and side-effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    15. Vadim Fetisov & Adam M. Gonopolsky & Maria Yu. Zemenkova & Schipachev Andrey & Hadi Davardoost & Amir H. Mohammadi & Masoud Riazi, 2023. "On the Integration of CO 2 Capture Technologies for an Oil Refinery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    16. Ruffino, Barbara & Cerutti, Alberto & Campo, Giuseppe & Scibilia, Gerardo & Lorenzi, Eugenio & Zanetti, Mariachiara, 2020. "Thermophilic vs. mesophilic anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge: Modelling and energy balance for its applicability at a full scale WWTP," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 235-248.
    17. Basaglia, Marina & Favaro, Lorenzo & Torri, Cristian & Casella, Sergio, 2021. "Is pyrolysis bio-oil prone to microbial conversion into added-value products?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 783-791.
    18. Stephanie Taboada & Lori Clark & Jake Lindberg & David J. Tonjes & Devinder Mahajan, 2021. "Quantifying the Potential of Renewable Natural Gas to Support a Reformed Energy Landscape: Estimates for New York State," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    19. Tharaka Rama Krishna C. Doddapaneni & Linnar Pärn & Timo Kikas, 2022. "Torrefaction of Pulp Industry Sludge to Enhance Its Fuel Characteristics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.
    20. Sethupathy, A. & Sivashanmugam, P., 2021. "Amelioration of methane production efficiency of paper industry waste sludge through hydrolytic enzymes assisted with poly3hydroxybutyrate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).

    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:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:17:p:6188-:d:897907. 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 (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.