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Use of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) for the sustainable treatment and recovery of fractions of the urban water sector the sense of a Biochar / Sewchar concept (CARBOWERT) - Subproject 1
Project
Project code: 2815600111
Contract period: 01.10.2013
- 30.09.2016
Budget: 875,470 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
With respect to the soil based reuse of their HTC biochars (HTC-B) sewchar systems cannot satisfy all expectations. Whereas controlled incineration leads to the degradation of all organic pollutants that are enriched in sewage sludge, HTC degrades only a large part of those. The bioavailabiltiy of heavy metals is reduced by HTC, but at the same time they are enriched in HTC-B. Important plant nutrients, e.g. nitrogen, are mainly transferred to the process waters (HTC-PW), others, e.g. phosphorus are accumulated in the HTC-B, though in forms of lower plant availability. Using HTC-B in agriculture causes relevant yield increases, however, due to their lower nutrient contents on a lower level than untreated sewage sludge. Despite their high contents of recalcitrant organic carbon compounds, HTC sewchars do not cause soil amendments beyond their fertilizing effects. Even if the effects of HTC of sewage sludge and their HTC-B are not optimal with respect to soil amelioration, sewchar systems promise advantages over thermal treatment or direct agricultural reuse of sewage sludge if applied in certain system configurations. HTC cause sewage sludge desintegration processes, thereby increasing the dewaterability of sewage sludge and the load of carbon compounds for biogas production. Set against the background of mid-term bans of sewage sludge use on soils, that are possibly to be applied also to sewchars, HTC has alternative potentials, first, due to its sterilizing effects for the treatment of human excrements and faecal sludges in new sanitation systems, and, second, due to its applicability for nutrient leaching in mineral fertilizer production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Process engineering
- Climate Change
