Co-pyrolysis of sludge and kaolin/zeolite in a rotary kiln: Analysis of stabilizing heavy metals

doi:10.1007/s11783-021-1488-1

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (7) : 85 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1488-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Co-pyrolysis of sludge and kaolin/zeolite in a rotary kiln: Analysis of stabilizing heavy metals

Qian Li, Zhaoping Zhong(

), Haoran Du, Xiang Zheng, Bo Zhang, Baosheng Jin

Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control (Ministry of Education), Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China

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Abstract

• Adding kaolin/zeolite promotes the formation of stable heavy metals.

• The potential ecological risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar is extremely low.

• Increasing the pyrolysis temperature reduces the leaching toxicity of heavy metals.

• The toxicity of biochar reduces with the increasing content of stable heavy metals.

Pyrolysis is a promising technique used for treating of sewage sludge. However, the application of pyrolysis products is limited due to the presence of heavy metals. In this study, sewage sludge mixed with kaolin/zeolite was pyrolyzed in a rotary kiln, aiming to improve the immobilization of heavy metals in pyrolytic carbon. The total concentrations, speciation distributions, leaching toxicities, and potential ecological risk indices of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar were explored to examine the effects of kaolin/zeolite and pyrolytic temperature on immobilizing heavy metals. Further, mineral composition and surface morphology of biochar were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the potential mechanism of immobilizing heavy metals. Increasing pyrolysis temperature facilitated the stabilization of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar. The proportions of stable heavy metals in biochar obtained at 650℃ were 54.50% (Cu), 29.73% (Zn), 79.29% (Cd), 68.17% (Pb) and 86.70% (Cr). Compared to sewage sludge, the potential contamination risk index of pyrolysis biochar obtained at 650℃ was reduced to 17.01, indicating a low ecological risk. The addition of 7% kaolin/zeolite further reduced the risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar prepared at 650℃ to 10.86/15.28. The characterization of biochar revealed that increase in the pyrolysis temperature and incorporation of additives are conducive to the formation of stable heavy metal-inorganics. This study demonstrates that the formation of stable mineral compounds containing heavy metals is the key to stabilizing heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar.

Keywords Co-pyrolysis Sewage sludge Heavy metals Rotary kiln Immobilization mechanism

Corresponding Author(s): Zhaoping Zhong

Issue Date: 29 October 2021

Cite this article:

Qian Li,Zhaoping Zhong,Haoran Du, et al. Co-pyrolysis of sludge and kaolin/zeolite in a rotary kiln: Analysis of stabilizing heavy metals[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2022, 16(7): 85.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-021-1488-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2022/V16/I7/85

Fig.1 Biochar yields (a) under different conditions and residual rates (b) of heavy metals in samples. SB, biochar prepared by pyrolysis of sewage sludge; SZB, biochar prepared by co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and zeolite; SKB, biochar prepared by co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and kaolin; SS, raw sewage sludge.

Fig.2 Residual rates of heavy metals in raw sludge and biochar.

Fig.3 Speciation distributions of heavy metals in raw sludge and biochar.

Fig.4 Leaching concentrations of heavy metals in raw sludge and biochar.

Fig.5 Risk assessment of the heavy metals in raw sludge and biochar.

Fig.6 XRD spectra of biochar. The crystalline phases were identified as: A: anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈); F: franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄); K: kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄); L: lead silicate (PbSiO₃); M: magnetite (Fe₃O₄)/ chromite (FeCr₂O₄); Q: quartz (SiO₂); S: spinel (CuAl₂O₄); Z: zeolite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈(H₂O)₄).

Fig.7 SEM analysis of biochar under magnification of × 2500 (a) and × 20000 (b, c, and d).

Tab.1 Textural properties of biochar

Fig.8 Immobilization mechanism of heavy metals during co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge with additives.

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