Analysis of the co-combustion of sewage sludge and coal by TG-MS

Combustion of sewage sludge may be a viable solution for its management in some cases and so is its co-combustion with coal. The aim of the present paper is to study the behavior of three different sludges during combustion and the modifications of combustion parameters that take place when sludges are mixed with coal, all measurements being done by thermogravimetry. The combustion of pyrolyzed sewage sludges has also been studied, related to the possibility of combining combustion with pyrolysis when trying to valorize sludges by producing active carbon. From the burning profile data it has been possible to observe that a rapid devolatilization occurs during sludge combustion compared to coal and previously pyrolyzed sludge. The exact temperatures of devolatilization and of maximum speed of weight loss have also been ascertained together with differential thermal analysis and measurements of gas emissions during combustion. The behavior of the sludges tested is qualitatively similar but quantitatively different, so tests have to be carried out before they are put in the furnace. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.