IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p3181-d1627458.html

Solutions for Energy and Raw Material Recovery from Sewage Sludge Within the Concept of Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Pop

    (Department of Technical Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Lucian Mihăescu

    (Department of Technical Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Carmen Anca Safta

    (Department of Hydraulics, Hydraulic Machines and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Energy Engineering, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Horațiu Lucian Pop

    (Department of Technical Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Gabriel Paul Negreanu

    (Department of Technical Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ionel Pîșă

    (Department of Technical Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants traditionally dispose of sludge using the method of landfilling and incineration, with both being carbon-intensive and environmentally harmful. Converting sludge into energy or reusable materials avoids landfills or incineration, helping reduce the volume of waste and associated pollution. Sludge treatment with energy recovery can offset fossil fuel use, further reducing the carbon footprint of sewage treatment processes. This research explores ways to recover energy from sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment that is often considered waste. Transforming sludge into valuable resources aligns with the principles of the circular economy, where waste streams are repurposed, minimizing environmental impact and enhancing resource efficiency. In this paper, a method is presented to reduce the volume of wastewater sludge by drying it in a hot flue gas stream at 700 °C. The energy of the exhaust gas is recovered in an organic Rankine cycle system, which powers the wastewater treatment facilities themselves, making them more self-sustaining.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Pop & Lucian Mihăescu & Carmen Anca Safta & Horațiu Lucian Pop & Gabriel Paul Negreanu & Ionel Pîșă, 2025. "Solutions for Energy and Raw Material Recovery from Sewage Sludge Within the Concept of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3181-:d:1627458
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3181/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3181/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jurand Bień & Beata Bień, 2024. "Energy Recovery from Municipal Sewage Sludge: Combustion Kinetics in a Varied Oxygen–Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Stefan Dragos Cîrstea & Calin Moldovan-Teselios & Andreea Cîrstea & Antoniu Claudiu Turcu & Cosmin Pompei Darab, 2018. "Evaluating Renewable Energy Sustainability by Composite Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Wei Cheng & Xiaohu Lin & Wei Liu & Haihua Cao & Jingcheng Xu, 2024. "Evaluation of the Feasibility and Utilizability of Pretreated Sewage Sludge in Cement Kiln Co-Processing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Bezirgiannidis, Athanasios & Chatzopoulos, Paraschos & Tsakali, Aikaterini & Ntougias, Spyridon & Melidis, Paraschos, 2020. "Renewable energy recovery from sewage sludge derived from chemically enhanced precipitation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1811-1818.
    5. Dinko Đurđević & Paolo Blecich & Željko Jurić, 2019. "Energy Recovery from Sewage Sludge: The Case Study of Croatia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Ákos Mesterházy & Judit Oláh & József Popp, 2020. "Losses in the Grain Supply Chain: Causes and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    7. Fatiha Berroug & Yassir Bellaziz & Zakaria Tagnamas & Younes Bahammou & Hamza Faraji & El Houssayne Bougayr & Naaila Ouazzani, 2024. "Drying Performance of a Combined Solar Greenhouse Dryer of Sewage Sludge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Katarzyna Zabielska-Adamska, 2019. "Sewage Sludge Bottom Ash Characteristics and Potential Application in Road Embankment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Vesna Mislej & Barbara Novosel, 2022. "Specification and Classification of Pelletised Dried Sewage Sludge: Identifying Its Key Properties as a Renewable Material for Enabling Environmentally Non-Harmful Energy Utilisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-24, November.
    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. Que Nguyen Ho & Giridhar Babu Anam & Jaein Kim & Somin Park & Tae-U Lee & Jae-Young Jeon & Yun-Young Choi & Young-Ho Ahn & Byung Joon Lee, 2022. "Fate of Sulfate in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and Its Effect on Sludge Recycling as a Fuel Source," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Adrián Csordás & Péter Lengyel & István Füzesi, 2022. "Who Prefers Regional Products? A Systematic Literature Review of Consumer Characteristics and Attitudes in Short Food Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Alina Vysochyna & Natalia Stoyanets & Grzegorz Mentel & Tadeusz Olejarz, 2020. "Environmental Determinants of a Country’s Food Security in Short-Term and Long-Term Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Giuseppe Campo & Alberto Cerutti & Claudio Lastella & Aldo Leo & Deborah Panepinto & Mariachiara Zanetti & Barbara Ruffino, 2021. "Production and Destination of Sewage Sludge in the Piemonte Region (Italy): The Results of a Survey for a Future Sustainable Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Jinwu Wang & Xiaobo Sun & Yanan Xu & Wenqi Zhou & Han Tang & Qi Wang, 2021. "Timeliness Harvesting Loss of Rice in Cold Region under Different Mechanical Harvesting Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, June.
    6. Blessing Iyanuoluwa Adediran & Akudo Francilia Onyegbula & Stephen Olufemi Oyeyipo & Tawakalitu Ahmed & Titilope Abosede Fashanu & Damilola Olubunmi Ariyo, 2025. "Smart Postharvest Management: Leveraging AI for Reduced Food Loss, Waste, and Improved Quality," Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Studies, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Doctoral Field Engineering and Management in Agriculture and Rural Development, issue 3, pages 5-16.
    7. Grimm, Veronika & Niazmand, Kiana & Runge, Philipp, 2026. "Assessing biomass carbon dioxide removal supply chains: System modelling and economic assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PD).
    8. Diankai Wang & Inna Gryshova & Anush Balian & Mykola Kyzym & Tetiana Salashenko & Viktoriia Khaustova & Olexandr Davidyuk, 2022. "Assessment of Power System Sustainability and Compromises between the Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    9. Marzena Smol, 2023. "Circular Economy in Wastewater Treatment Plant—Water, Energy and Raw Materials Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Rashad Huseynov & Naila Aliyeva & Valery Bezpalov & Denis Syromyatnikov, 2024. "Cluster analysis as a tool for improving the performance of agricultural enterprises in the agro-industrial sector," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 4119-4132, February.
    11. Nestor Shpak & Oleh Kuzmin & Olga Melnyk & Mariana Ruda & Włodzimierz Sroka, 2020. "Implementation of a Circular Economy in Ukraine: The Context of European Integration," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Cătălina Silvia Crișan-Mitra & Liana Stanca & Dan-Cristian Dabija, 2020. "Corporate Social Performance: An Assessment Model on an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Andelina Bubalo & Drazen Vouk & Nina Stirmer & Karlo Nad, 2021. "Use of Sewage Sludge Ash in the Production of Innovative Bricks—An Example of a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    14. Dinko Đurđević & Saša Žiković & Paolo Blecich, 2022. "Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management Technologies Selection Based on Techno-Economic-Environmental Criteria: Case Study of Croatia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Jankowski, Krzysztof Józef & Kołodziej, Barbara & Dubis, Bogdan & Sugier, Danuta & Antonkiewicz, Jacek & Szatkowski, Artur, 2023. "The effect of sewage sludge on the energy balance of cup plant biomass production. A six-year field experiment in Poland," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    16. Zivar Zeynalova & Natavan Namazova, 2022. "Revealing Consumer Behavior toward Green Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    17. Hafiz Wasim Akram & Samreen Akhtar & Alam Ahmad & Imran Anwar & Mohammad Ali Bait Ali Sulaiman, 2023. "Developing a Conceptual Framework Model for Effective Perishable Food Cold-Supply-Chain Management Based on Structured Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-28, March.
    18. Shazia Hussain, 2024. "Advancing Plant Health Management: Challenges, Strategies, and Implications for Global Agriculture," International Journal of Agriculture & Sustainable Development, 50sea, vol. 6(2), pages 73-89, April.
    19. Rosalinda Nicastro & Petronia Carillo, 2021. "Food Loss and Waste Prevention Strategies from Farm to Fork," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    20. Gourav Sharma & Swati Shrestha & Sudip Kunwar & Te-Ming Tseng, 2021. "Crop Diversification for Improved Weed Management: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.

    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:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3181-:d:1627458. 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.