We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Valorization of sewage sludge via non-catalytic transesterification
ClearUse of sewage sludge biochar as a catalyst in production of biodiesel through thermally induced transesterification
Researchers demonstrated that sewage sludge could serve as both a lipid source and a biochar catalyst for biodiesel production, performing thermally induced transesterification of sewage sludge extract and comparing reaction kinetics against conventional approaches, showing that the high lipid and earth alkaline metal content enables viable catalyst preparation.
A method for the characterisation of microplastics in sludge
Researchers developed a method for detecting and characterizing microplastics in sewage sludge, which concentrates the majority of microplastics removed during wastewater treatment. This method is important because sludge is widely spread on agricultural land, making it a key pathway for microplastics entering soils.
An Integrated Pyrolysis Approach for Hydrogen Production and Microplastic Elimination from Sewage Sludge Experimental and Analytical Perspectives [dataset]
Scientists found a way to remove tiny plastic particles called microplastics from sewage sludge (waste from water treatment plants) while also producing clean hydrogen fuel. The high-heat process completely eliminated microplastics that were present in the sludge, which is important because these tiny plastics can contaminate our soil and water when sewage sludge is used as fertilizer. This technique could help protect our environment from plastic pollution while creating renewable energy at the same time.
Microplastics degradation through hydrothermal liquefaction of wastewater treatment sludge
Researchers tested whether hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) — a high-temperature, high-pressure process that converts sewage sludge into bio-crude oil — could also destroy microplastics in the sludge, finding it reduced microplastic numbers by 76% and mass by 97%, with no microplastics detected in the bio-crude product. This suggests HTL could serve a dual purpose: producing renewable fuel while significantly reducing microplastic pollution from the sludge that would otherwise be spread on farmland.
A systematic overview of current advancements for chemical, material, and energy production using sewage sludge for industrial ecology and sustainability transition
This review examines current advances in recovering chemicals, materials, and energy from sewage sludge, identifying opportunities to convert this waste stream into valuable products while addressing microplastic and contaminant concerns that complicate sludge reuse.
Combined application of analytical techniques for microplastic determination to achieve comprehensive results for sewage sludge samples
Researchers combined multiple analytical techniques for comprehensive microplastic determination in sewage sludge samples, addressing the challenge that more than 90% of microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants are retained in sludge and require robust multi-method characterization.
The presence of microplastics in waste sludges
This Croatian review examines the presence of microplastics in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants and their pathways into terrestrial and aquatic environments. The authors discuss alternative sustainable sludge management approaches aligned with circular economy principles.
Microplastics in sewage sludge: Distribution, toxicity, identification methods, and engineered technologies
This review examines how microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which then becomes a major pathway for spreading these particles into the environment. Researchers found that sludge can contain extremely high concentrations of microplastics, ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of particles per kilogram. The study evaluates current detection methods and emerging technologies for removing microplastics from sludge before it is applied to agricultural land or disposed of.
Hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge for circular bioeconomy: Focus on lignocellulose wastes, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals
Researchers reviewed how a high-heat water process called hydrothermal liquefaction can convert sewage sludge — which is loaded with microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and plant waste — into usable biofuel while neutralizing many of these contaminants. This approach offers a promising way to tackle the growing problem of sewage sludge disposal while recovering energy, though challenges remain in scaling it up economically.
Biorefinery of Sewage Sludge: Overview of Possible Value-Added Products and Applicable Process Technologies
This review examined biorefinery approaches for sewage sludge, evaluating value-added products and applicable process technologies as sustainable alternatives to traditional disposal methods like landfill and incineration.
Pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisted with microplastics: Kinetics, mechanism, and product characteristics
Researchers investigated the co-pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge mixed with polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics. They found that the presence of microplastics improved the overall pyrolysis performance and altered the composition of the resulting bio-oil and gas products. The study suggests that understanding how microplastics in sewage sludge affect thermal treatment could help optimize waste processing at wastewater treatment plants.
Microplastics in sewage sludge destined to anaerobic digestion: The potential role of thermal pretreatment
Researchers found that thermal pretreatment of sewage sludge at 120°C did not degrade conventional PET microplastics but did alter biodegradable microplastics, which also boosted methane production during anaerobic digestion, raising concerns about how different microplastic types behave in sludge treatment.
Fate of microplastic during pyrolysis of sewage sludge
Researchers investigated what happens to microplastics embedded in sewage sludge when sludge is treated by pyrolysis, a high-temperature thermochemical process. Pyrolysis effectively destroyed most microplastic particles, but some residual polymer-derived compounds partitioned into the pyrolysis products.
Impact of micro-nanoplastics on biochemical phases of anaerobic digestion in sewage sludge treatment: mechanistic insights and future prospects
Micro- and nanoplastics were found to disrupt the biochemical phases of anaerobic digestion, affecting the efficiency of the biological process used to treat organic waste. Understanding these impacts is important because anaerobic digestion is a common wastewater and sludge treatment method that may both receive and process microplastic-contaminated materials.
Microplastic Degradation through Thermal Hydrolysis in Sewage Sludge and Its Impact on the Anaerobic Process
Researchers found that thermal hydrolysis pretreatment of sewage sludge reduced microplastic concentrations from 206 particles/g to lower levels, with approximately 54% of microplastics initially in solid phase, and examined the implications for sludge management and microplastic fate.
Fate of microplastic during pyrolysis of sewage sludge
Researchers examined how pyrolysis as a sewage sludge treatment method affects the fate of embedded microplastics, finding that thermal treatment largely destroys plastic particles. However, some polymer-derived volatile compounds transferred to pyrolysis gases and oils, suggesting that microplastic destruction does not eliminate all associated chemical risks.
Efficient Depolymerization and Low-Toxicity Leaching of Polyester Microplastics through Alkali-Hydrothermal Treatment of Sewage Sludge
Researchers developed an alkali-hydrothermal treatment method that degraded 82% of PET microplastics trapped in sewage sludge, converting them into low-toxicity dissolved organic matter. The approach works by leveraging alkalinity, metal ions, and organic matter naturally present in sludge to break down plastic through hydrolysis and radical oxidation, offering a practical strategy for reducing microplastic contamination before sludge is applied to agricultural land.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: Effects of Treatment
This study examined the effects of various sewage sludge treatment processes on microplastic content, finding that treatment methods differ substantially in their ability to reduce microplastic concentrations before sludge is disposed of or land-applied.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A Known but Underrated Pathway in Wastewater Treatment Plants
This review finds that wastewater treatment plants effectively transfer microplastics from effluent into sewage sludge, creating a significant but underrated pathway for MP contamination when sludge is applied to agricultural soils.
Effects of microplastics on the properties of different types of sewage sludge and strategies to overcome the inhibition: A review
This review examined how microplastics trapped in sewage sludge during wastewater treatment affect sludge properties, microbial communities, and treatment efficiency, while discussing strategies to overcome microplastic-induced inhibition of sludge processing.
Integrating Pyrolysis or Combustion with Scrubbing to Maximize the Nutrient and Energy Recovery from Municipal Sewage Sludge
This study modeled how combining pyrolysis or combustion with gas scrubbing could recover heat and nutrients from municipal sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants. Since sewage sludge is a major sink for microplastics, improved sludge management is relevant to reducing the spread of microplastics through biosolid land application.
Recovery of Cellulose, Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Microplastics from Sewage Sludge: A Review
This review examines the technical feasibility and circular economy potential of recovering cellulose, extracellular polymeric substances, and microplastics from sewage sludge, finding that while biopolymer recovery offers significant value, microplastics remain a persistent polymeric pollutant whose removal and valorization pathways are underexplored compared to nutrient recovery.
Enhancing volatile fatty acid production from sewage sludge in batch fermentation tests
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it compares four pre-treatment methods for sewage sludge to optimize the production of volatile fatty acids through acidogenic fermentation, finding potassium permanganate treatment most effective — relevant to wastewater resource recovery.
Co-Valorisation Energy Potential of Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Agroforestry Waste
Not relevant to microplastics — this study characterizes the energy potential of various biomass feedstocks including sewage sludge, forestry waste, swine manure, cork, and biochar as renewable energy co-valorisation resources, finding substantial variation in calorific values across materials.