Researchers from the University of Córdoba, Spain, have devised a sustainable method for transforming sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, into valuable activated carbon, crucial for various industrial and residential purposes. Through pyrolysis, a process of thermal decomposition, and activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH), the researchers achieved high-surface-area activated carbons from the sludge. By optimizing parameters like KOH ratio, pyrolysis time, and temperature, they obtained a yield of 0.63 kg of activated carbon per kilogram of sewage sludge, with a significantly reduced KOH amount, leading to a more porous and cost-effective product. Energy and economic calculations revealed potential cost reductions through pre-treatment methods like centrifugation. This innovative technique holds promise for industrial-scale application, offering a sustainable solution to both waste management and the production of high-value materials.
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