Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications
The conversion of sewage sludge into biodiesel presents a sustainable approach to waste management while simultaneously advancing renewable energy objectives. Sewage sludge, possessing a lipid content ranging from 10 % to 25 %, serves as a cost-effective raw material for biodiesel synthesis, thereby...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Results in Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302500088X |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832586250259791872 |
|---|---|
| author | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan Devarajan Raja T |
| author_facet | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan Devarajan Raja T |
| author_sort | Christopher Selvam D |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The conversion of sewage sludge into biodiesel presents a sustainable approach to waste management while simultaneously advancing renewable energy objectives. Sewage sludge, possessing a lipid content ranging from 10 % to 25 %, serves as a cost-effective raw material for biodiesel synthesis, thereby adhering to the tenets of circular economy principles. This review delves into sophisticated conversion methodologies, including transesterification, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), emphasizing their efficacy and yield. Supported heteropolyacids (HPAs), notably phosphotungstic and phosphomolybdic acids when deposited on silica and alumina, exhibit remarkable catalytic efficiency, attaining biodiesel yields of 90 % to 95 % under optimized operational parameters. HTL techniques yield bio-oil outputs of 45 % to 60 %, establishing it as one of the most proficient approaches for sludge conversion. Furthermore, the incorporation of supported HPAs enhances reaction kinetics, diminishes byproduct formation, and facilitates the reusability of catalysts for 5 to 6 cycles, thereby reducing both costs and environmental repercussions. The techno-economic evaluation indicates production expenses as low as $0.50 to $0.70 per liter, while life-cycle assessments suggest a decrease in CO₂ emissions of up to 80 % in comparison to traditional diesel. This review elucidates existing obstacles, such as feedstock heterogeneity and catalyst longevity, and advocates for subsequent research aimed at optimizing sludge-to-biodiesel conversion technologies for implementation at a large scale. By offering detailed methodologies and quantitative insights, this investigation contributes to the body of knowledge in sustainable energy production and waste valorization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23b387eeecbb42e2992c63eeac76590f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-23b387eeecbb42e2992c63eeac76590f2025-01-26T05:04:46ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-03-0125104000Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applicationsChristopher Selvam D0Yuvarajan Devarajan1Raja T2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding author.Materials Science Lab, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, IndiaThe conversion of sewage sludge into biodiesel presents a sustainable approach to waste management while simultaneously advancing renewable energy objectives. Sewage sludge, possessing a lipid content ranging from 10 % to 25 %, serves as a cost-effective raw material for biodiesel synthesis, thereby adhering to the tenets of circular economy principles. This review delves into sophisticated conversion methodologies, including transesterification, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), emphasizing their efficacy and yield. Supported heteropolyacids (HPAs), notably phosphotungstic and phosphomolybdic acids when deposited on silica and alumina, exhibit remarkable catalytic efficiency, attaining biodiesel yields of 90 % to 95 % under optimized operational parameters. HTL techniques yield bio-oil outputs of 45 % to 60 %, establishing it as one of the most proficient approaches for sludge conversion. Furthermore, the incorporation of supported HPAs enhances reaction kinetics, diminishes byproduct formation, and facilitates the reusability of catalysts for 5 to 6 cycles, thereby reducing both costs and environmental repercussions. The techno-economic evaluation indicates production expenses as low as $0.50 to $0.70 per liter, while life-cycle assessments suggest a decrease in CO₂ emissions of up to 80 % in comparison to traditional diesel. This review elucidates existing obstacles, such as feedstock heterogeneity and catalyst longevity, and advocates for subsequent research aimed at optimizing sludge-to-biodiesel conversion technologies for implementation at a large scale. By offering detailed methodologies and quantitative insights, this investigation contributes to the body of knowledge in sustainable energy production and waste valorization.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302500088XSewage sludgeBiodieselAlternate FuelsDiesel EnginesWaste-to-Energy |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan Devarajan Raja T Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications Results in Engineering Sewage sludge Biodiesel Alternate Fuels Diesel Engines Waste-to-Energy |
| title | Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| title_full | Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| title_fullStr | Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| title_short | Sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel: Advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| title_sort | sewage sludge as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel advances in conversion technologies and catalytic applications |
| topic | Sewage sludge Biodiesel Alternate Fuels Diesel Engines Waste-to-Energy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302500088X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christopherselvamd sewagesludgeasasustainablefeedstockforbiodieseladvancesinconversiontechnologiesandcatalyticapplications AT yuvarajandevarajan sewagesludgeasasustainablefeedstockforbiodieseladvancesinconversiontechnologiesandcatalyticapplications AT rajat sewagesludgeasasustainablefeedstockforbiodieseladvancesinconversiontechnologiesandcatalyticapplications |