Preparation of carbon-based adsorbents from pyrolysis and air activation of sewage sludges

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2005

Authors

Mendez, A (Author) Other; Gasco, G (Author) Other; Freitas, MMA (Author) Other; Siebielec, G (Author) Other; Stuczynski, T (Author) Other; José Luis Figueiredo (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Journal

Vol. 108 No. 1

Pages: 169-177

ISSN: 1385-8947

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 52 Citations

Scopus - 48 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-3Y9

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2005.01.015

Abstract (EN): The pyrolysis of 10 sewage sludges (5 anaerobic and 5 aerobic) from the Madrid region (Spain) was carried out at 450° C during 1 h in a vertical glass-furnace. A thorough characterisation of sewage sludges was performed in order to study the influence of their properties on the pyrolysis process. Both anaerobically and aerobically stabilized sewage sludges that lead to pyrolysed materials with higher carbon content (38.6 and 43.4 wt.%, respectively) were selected for the preparation of carbon-based adsorbents. These two materials were air-activated at 275 ° C during 4 h in order to improve their properties. After that, the BET surface area of carbon-based materials increased from 16 to 102 m(2)/g for the aerobic sludge and from 81 to 105 m(2)/g for the anaerobic one. These results showed that pyrolysis of sewage sludges using lower pyrolysis temperatures and air activation could be an interesting alternative route for the inexpensive and environmentally acceptable synthesis of carbon-based adsorbents.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9