A critical literature review on biosolids to biochar: an alternative biosolids management option

The biosolids management is becoming an increased concern for the wastewater sector in recent times due to production of large volume of biosolids, their higher processing costs and the presence of emerging contaminants. The pyrolysis of biosolids is gaining significant interest in the industry sect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reviews in environmental science and biotechnology 2020-12, Vol.19 (4), p.807-841
Main Authors: Patel, Savankumar, Kundu, Sazal, Halder, Pobitra, Ratnnayake, Nimesha, Marzbali, Mojtaba Hedayati, Aktar, Shefali, Selezneva, Ekaterina, Paz-Ferreiro, Jorge, Surapaneni, Aravind, de Figueiredo, Cícero Célio, Sharma, Abhishek, Megharaj, Mallavarapu, Shah, Kalpit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Biosolids
Catalysts
Charcoal
Contaminants
Earth and Environmental Science
Economic models
Environment
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Literature reviews
Microbiology
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis products
Review Paper
Sludge
Soil amendment
Soil contamination
Solid waste management
Wastewater
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Summary:The biosolids management is becoming an increased concern for the wastewater sector in recent times due to production of large volume of biosolids, their higher processing costs and the presence of emerging contaminants. The pyrolysis of biosolids is gaining significant interest in the industry sector as well as research community over the last decade due to its ability to reduce biosolids volume, produce high-value biochar product and minimise the risk associated with contaminants. This paper aims to critically review the literature on biosolids management techniques and their current challenges, biosolids characteristics and its suitability for pyrolysis, pyrolysis product characterisation from different reactor designs and biochar application as a soil amendment, adsorbent and catalyst. The efforts have also been made to critically summarise studies on the process modelling activities and techno-economic assessments including some key pilot-scale demonstrations of recent time. The review concludes that biosolids to biochar can be an effective alternative to biosolids management; however, its commercial viability is limited in the current scenario. In the end, efforts have been made to highlight current challenges including research gaps and future perspectives in improving its commercial viability.
ISSN:1569-1705
1572-9826
DOI:10.1007/s11157-020-09553-x