Fundamental study of kinetics and product distribution in catalytic hydrothermal gasification of industrial and municipal sludge

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With the global trend towards a low-carbon economy, biomass utilization for the production of energy and fuel is gaining increasing popularity. Considering the various sources of biomass, conversion of domestic and industrial sludge (waste biomass) as a source of hydrogen, methane, and other high quality fuels is expected to significantly grow in the future. In North America, the total amount of sludge produced by municipal treatment plants and pulp and paper industry alone is estimated to be well in excess of ten million tons a year (dry basis). This sludge mostly consists of organic compounds from biological sources and its utilization may be eligible for carbon credit. In addition, common options for sludge management- i.e. land application, landfilling, incineration and anaerobic digestion- either risk polluting our environment or provide only a partial solution for the solid waste disposal problem. Therefore, there is a need to develop green technologies that better utilize sludge as a renewable source of energy. Hydrothermal gasification offers great promise to achieve this goal. This technology can efficiently convert sludge to hydrogen, methane, and other valuable products. The main obstacles to the commercial viability of this technology are the operational issues; such as buildup of scale and corrosion. It is our objective to address these problems by developing novel catalytic pathways to reduce the gasification temperature and pressure while maintaining a high hydrogen yield. Such technology has the potential to radically transform the bioenergy industry. It will help create a high and sustainable level of prosperity while improving the health and lives of people in Canada. This technology is in line with Canada's strategic direction in terms of developing renewable energy platforms. It can help Canada secure a leading position in the emerging low-carbon economy and to achieve its greenhouse gas emission targets. HQP trained in this project will acquire cutting-edge skills in multi-disciplinary fields and will be at the frontier of the green chemistry and bioenergy sciences. They will be ideal candidates for employment by the Canada's "bio-based" industry, research institutions, and government organizations.