Enhancing dewatering, drying, combustion and utilization of pulp and paper mill biosludge

加拿大纸浆和造纸厂每年产生超过2000万立方米的原始生物污泥。生物污泥是在生物废水处理过程中产生的，占水的98%，其余为细菌和树木残留物。能源密集型脱水可以将含水量降低到60 - 80%，此时污泥要么被填埋，要么在生物质锅炉中焚烧，要么被土地利用。无论选择哪种处置方案，处理、化学和能源成本都很高，减少环境足迹的机会也很大。为了在全球市场上保持竞争力，并满足日益严格的环境法规，加拿大工厂需要提供更具成本和能源效益的生物污泥管理方法和策略，同时最大限度地减少工厂的环境足迹。这项为期四年的合作研究和开发计划旨在开发成本有效的脱水、干燥、燃烧和利用工厂生物污泥的方法。该研究将在NSERC和七家加拿大纸浆和造纸相关公司的支持下，从2016年秋季开始在多伦多大学和劳伦森大学进行。拟议的研究计划包括四个主要任务，每个任务涉及两个或两个以上的项目。它将由格兰特·艾伦教授和来自多伦多大学、劳伦森大学和麦吉尔大学的其他七位教授领导。该研究项目将在加拿大培养15名研究生和至少8名本科生。该计划的成功完成将导致知识产权和新技术的发展，这些技术可以商业化，并为加拿大纸浆和造纸厂提供具有成本效益的污泥管理工具和指导方针。

Canadian pulp and paper mills generate more than 20 million cubic metres of raw biosludge per year. Biosludge is generated during biological wastewater treatment and consists to >98% of water with the remainder being bacteria and tree residues. Energy intensive dewatering can decrease the water content to 60 - 80%, at which the sludge is either being landfilled, incinerated in biomass boilers, or land-applied. Regardless of the disposal option selected, the processing, chemical and energy costs are substantial as are the opportunities to reduce their environmental footprint.In order to remain competitive on the global market and to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations, Canadian mills need to be provided with methods and strategies for a more cost and energy effective management of biosludge, while minimizing the mills' environmental footprint. This 4-year collaborative research and development program is aimed at developing methods for cost effective dewatering, drying, combustion and utilization of mill biosludge. The research will be conducted at the University of Toronto as well as with Laurentian University starting the Fall of 2016 through support from NSERC and seven Canadian pulp and paper related companies.The proposed research program consists of four main tasks, each involving two or more projects. It will be led by Professor Grant Allen and seven other professors from the University of Toronto, Laurentian University, and McGill University. The research program will train 15 graduate students, and at least 8 undergraduate students in Canada. Successful completion of the program will lead to the development of intellectual property and new technologies that can be commercialized, and provide Canadian pulp and paper mills with tools and guidelines for cost effective sludge management.