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Carbon Footprint Analysis of Sewage Sludge Thermochemical Conversion Technologies

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  • Liping Li

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Guiyue Du

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Beibei Yan

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Yuan Wang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Yingxin Zhao

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Jianming Su

    (Tianjin Huabo Water Affairs Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300301, China)

  • Hongyi Li

    (Tianjin Huabo Water Affairs Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300301, China)

  • Yanfeng Du

    (Tianjin Huabo Water Affairs Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300301, China)

  • Yunan Sun

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Guanyi Chen

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    Tianjin Key Lab of Biomass/Wastes Utilization, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Wanqing Li

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Thomas Helmer Pedersen

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark)

Abstract

Thermochemical conversion technology for sewage sludge (SS) management has obvious advantages compared to traditional technologies, such as considerable volume reduction, effective pathogen elimination, and potential fuel production. However, few researchers conducted comparative research on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission performances of these technologies. This paper evaluates the lifecycle carbon footprints of three SS thermochemical conversion technologies, including hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) (Case 1), pyrolysis (Case 2), and incineration (Case 3) with software OpenLCA and Ecoinvent database. The results show that Case 1 has the smallest carbon footprint (172.50 kg CO 2eq /t SS), which indicates the HTL process has the best GHG emission reduction potential compared to other SS disposal routes. The biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of SS thermochemical conversion technologies is indirect emissions related to energy consumption. So the energy consumption ratio (ECR) of the three cases is calculated to assess the energy consumption performances. From the perspective of energy conversion, Case 1 shows the best performance with an ECR of 0.34. In addition, element balance analysis is carried out to deeply evaluate the carbon reduction performance of the three cases. This study fills the knowledge gap regarding the carbon footprints for SS thermochemical conversion technologies and provides a reference for future technology selection and policymaking against climate change in the SS management sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Liping Li & Guiyue Du & Beibei Yan & Yuan Wang & Yingxin Zhao & Jianming Su & Hongyi Li & Yanfeng Du & Yunan Sun & Guanyi Chen & Wanqing Li & Thomas Helmer Pedersen, 2023. "Carbon Footprint Analysis of Sewage Sludge Thermochemical Conversion Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4170-:d:1080360
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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.
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    3. Joeri Rogelj & Michel den Elzen & Niklas Höhne & Taryn Fransen & Hanna Fekete & Harald Winkler & Roberto Schaeffer & Fu Sha & Keywan Riahi & Malte Meinshausen, 2016. "Paris Agreement climate proposals need a boost to keep warming well below 2 °C," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7609), pages 631-639, June.
    4. Lin, Yi-Pin & Wang, Wen-Hsian & Pan, Shu-Yuan & Ho, Chang-Ching & Hou, Chin-Jen & Chiang, Pen-Chi, 2016. "Environmental impacts and benefits of organic Rankine cycle power generation technology and wood pellet fuel exemplified by electric arc furnace steel industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 369-379.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cagri Un, 2024. "Enhancing Sewage Sludge Treatment with Hydrothermal Processing: A Case Study of Adana City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Junran Liu & Shuyi Liu & Lisha Zhu & Lirong Sun & Ying Zhang & Xin Li & Laili Wang, 2023. "Carbon Neutrality Potential of Textile Products Made from Plant-Derived Fibers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-11, April.

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