Study of the thermal behavior of sewage sludge from a WWTP in Cantabria (Spain) by TG-DSC-MS

According to European Directive and national regulations in Spain, techniques based on thermal decomposition are proposed for the sewage sludge disposal. In this work, the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Casar de Periedo, in Cantabria (Spain) is studied by Thermogravimetry – Differential Scanning Calorimetry – Mass Spectrometry (TG –DSC – MS). A sample of this sludge was submitted, after drying, to different atmospheres: 100 % He, N2 /air or He/air 80/20 and 100 % air, from 20 to 900 ºC, to study primary decomposition reactions in pyrolysis, gasification and combustion respectively. The purpose was to determine the weight loss at different temperatures, the heat flow at each atmosphere and the presence of some gas products like H2, CO, CO2, CH4, or HCl, SO2, SO3, NO and NO2 released, these last five gases to know the contaminants emitted. Combustion conditions (air) rend the greatest mass loss and energy production. Reactions take place at lower temperatures, being mainly CO2 and H2O the products detected in MS, with little amounts of CH4, as it is expected for mainly total oxidation reactions. In gasification conditions, essayed with two atmospheres (N2-air and He-air), quantitative results found are similar, but the highest thermal conductivity of He produces exothermic reactions at lower temperatures, observed in the mass loss and heat flow profiles. From reactions of decomposition, partial oxidation and total oxidation, CO2, H2, H2O and CH4, were identified by MS. Pyrolysis conditions (He) produce the lowest mass loss and slightly endothermic reactions, mainly because of decomposition reactions. Higher H2 amounts were obtained at higher temperatures than in gasification conditions. No gas contaminant (HCl, SO2, SO3, NO and NO2) has been detected by MS, considering this sewage sludge as a “clean sludge”. Comparing the thermal behaviour of the sewage sludge of this plant to that obtained in the WWTP of Santander, the sludge from Casar de Periedo is more appropriated to thermal valorization.

We are thankful to MICINN in Spain, National Plan for scientific Research, Development and innovation, for financial support under Project: MAT2010-18862.