article · Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
This study evaluates dual biogas and biochar generation from the anaerobic co-digestion of petrochemical wastewater and domestic wastewater alongside sludge pyrolysis. Anaerobic digestion of purely domestic wastewater generated 306.4 millilitres of biogas per gram of chemical oxygen demand removed, which decreased by 12.7 percent when shifting entirely to petrochemical wastewater. Increasing the domestic wastewater fraction promoted greater chemical oxygen demand conversion into biogas and sludge. Pyrolysis of the resulting anaerobic sludge yielded 0.6 grams of biochar per gram of dry sludge, displaying favourable surface morphology, elemental composition, and functional groups. A techno-economic assessment based on treating 30 cubic metres per day found that treating petrochemical wastewater alone was the most economically viable option. This configuration yielded annual profits from energy income, biochar sales, and pollution reduction, resulting in an estimated capital payback period of 5.38 years.
Treating industrial and municipal effluents together addresses pressing environmental pollution while recovering valuable resources. Converting wastewater into renewable biogas fuel and sludge into functional biochar provides circular solutions for waste management. Demonstrating clear economic viability and measurable payback periods helps operators identify sustainable wastewater treatment strategies that contribute to clean energy, pollution control, and economic returns.
This process offers industrial wastewater plant operators and municipal utility managers a dual-product waste-to-energy model. By coupling anaerobic digestion with sludge pyrolysis, facilities could monetise energy generation and biochar sales while lowering pollution penalties. Because the analysis relies on laboratory digestion, material characterisation, and an economic model for treating 30 cubic metres daily, the technology represents applied research that requires pilot testing at scale before deployment.
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Abstract This study investigates the utilization of petrochemical and domestic wastewater (PCW and DW) for dual biogas and biochar production, focusing on the economic and sustainable development criteria. Biogas yield by anaerobic co-digestion of a 0:1 (PCW:DW) feed was 306.4±11.8 mL per g chemical oxygen demand (COD) removed, which dropped by 12.7% with changing PCW:DW to 1:0. The results indicated that increasing the DW fraction in the feed encouraged the conversion of COD into more biogas and sludge amounts. The anaerobic sludge was subjected to pyrolysis to generate biochar with a yield of 0.6 g/g dry sludge. The delivered biochar showed appropriate surface morphology, elemental composition, physical properties, and surface functional groups, as demonstrated by SEM/EDX, XRD, and FTIR characterizations. The COD mass balance estimation of the anaerobic digestion system, with biochar yield, was used to determine the economic feasibility of treating 30 m 3 /day of wastewater. The 1:0 (PCW:DW) condition provided the most feasible scenario, with profits of 3340, 192, and 2819 USD/year for energy income, biochar selling, and pollution reduction, respectively. This economic benefit was equivalent to a payback period of 5.38 years. The fulfillment of multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to clean and renewable energy production, human health protection, and economic growth was highlighted. Graphical abstract
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DOI: 10.1007/s13399-022-02944-w
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