Scientific Reports (Jan 2021)

Induced changes of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical traits of sewage sludge and on the potential ecological risks

  • Claudineia de Souza Souza,
  • Marcela Rebouças Bomfim,
  • Maria da Conceição de Almeida,
  • Lucas de Souza Alves,
  • Welder Neves de Santana,
  • Itamar Carlos da Silva Amorim,
  • Jorge Antonio Gonzaga Santos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79658-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Biochar from sewage sludge is a low-cost sorbent that may be used for several environmental functions. This study evaluates the induced effects of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical characteristics of sewage sludge (SS) biochar produced at 350 (SSB350), 450 (SSB450) and 600 (SSB600), based on the metal enrichment index, metal mobility index (MMI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Increased pyrolysis temperature reduced the biochar concentration of elements that are lost as volatile compounds (C, N, H, O, and S), while the concentration of stable aromatic carbon, ash, alkalinity, some macro (Ca, Mg, P2O5, and K2O) and micronutrients (Cu and Zn), and toxic elements such as Pb and Cd increased. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature is also important in the transformation of metals from toxic and available forms into more stable potentially available and non-available forms. Based on the individual potential ecological risk index, Cd in the SS and SSB450 were in the moderate and considerable contamination ranges, respectively. For all pyrolysis temperature biochar Cd was the highest metal contributor to the PERI. Despite this, the potential ecological risk index of the SS and SSBs was graded as low.