A brand new pyrolysis-based remedy resolution has been developed to fight extra sludge from wastewater remedy and digestate from biogas manufacturing, which is utilised as farming fertiliser for its phosphorous content material – and which can additionally comprise dangerous PFAS.
Danish district heating firm DIN Forsyning operates 16 remedy crops in two native municipalities. In whole, these deal with about 22 million m3 of wastewater every year, in accordance with the corporate.
Within the remedy course of, 15,000 tons of extra sludge with excessive phosphorus content material is produced, and its excessive nutrient worth makes it a beneficial fertiliser for agriculture.
The corporate stated there’s a excessive danger that the sludge comprises dangerous environmental contaminants like PFAS that pollute the soil and groundwater – including to the agricultural trade’s CO2-emissions.
With the substantial quantity of sludge concerned, DIN Forsyning added it was essential to discover a method to utilise the sludge’s constructive results – with out destructive side-effects. So it developed a brand new sort of plant.
“Throughout pyrolysis, sludge is heated to 650°C, adopted by combustion of the pyrolysis gases at over 1,000°C. Research have proven that compounds resembling PFAS breaks down beneath the extraordinary heating,” stated challenge supervisor and enterprise developer at Din Forsyning, Kim Stenholdt Madsen.
Danish biomass and pyrolysis know-how firm Dall Power will ship the pyrolysis-based plant, which is predicated on cutting-edge know-how supported by the Danish Power Company.
“We have developed a technology that converts waste streams into energy and other useful products. This solution for the DIN Forsyning-plant is an excellent example of how we can turn waste-water sludge into an environmentally friendly and efficient solution for agriculture,” commented Dall Power’s MD Jens Dall Bentzen.
“Credit score to DIN Forsyning for being forward-looking and for embracing the worth of pyrolysis know-how. A know-how with huge potential – not solely when it comes to wastewater sludge, but in addition for CCS and for the utilisation of extra fibres from biogas manufacturing.”
Kim Stenholdt Madsen continued: “Along with wastewater sludge, the pyrolysis plant may even be capable to utilise by-products from farms as an auxiliary gasoline. This will increase the quantity of biofertiliser which contributes to CO2-reduction in agriculture. Furthermore, the plant will be capable to produce a substantial quantity of course of warmth, which might exchange fossil fuels for industrial functions or district heating.”
