Evaluation of process for conversion of sewage sludge to activated carbon for wastewater treatment

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The goal of this proposal is to provide a novel process which converts wastewater treatment sludge into a**carbonaceous sorbent, a product which can be enhanced and used to treat secondary effluent, reducing**emerging contaminants before they are discharged to the environment. This waste-to-resources process would**not only reduce the quantity of waste, but also potentially be effective for stormwater treatment and for**stabilizing emerging contaminants in sediments/soils. This work will support Metro-Vancouver, a leader in**progressive solutions, in promoting its sustainable region initiative on "Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource**Management" and "Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management", as well as waste-to-resources. The**research, to be carried out by Dr. Li and her Civil Engineering students at UBC, will involve several**components: (1) Optimize the activation by manipulating conditions, including pyrolysis temperature, heating**time, temperature ramping rate with biomass using WWTP secondary sludge from Metro Vancouver (MV). (2)**Compare key physical properties (specific surface area, surface functional group) and chemical adsorptivities**of activated carbons from small and larger furnaces obtained under the same operating conditions for their**physical properties on polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). (3) Correlate sorption efficiencies for PAHs and the**physiochemical properties of the sorbents. (4) Compare the results for the new sorbents with those produced**from UBC pilot plant sludge. This study will provide a foundation for further more focused testing that with**potential for direct application at wastewater treatment plants for removal of emerging contaminants from**aqueous environments. It will provide information on the economic viability and sustainability of producing**sludge-based activated carbons on an industrial scale, compared with alternative sludge reduction technologies.