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To char or not to char? Review of technologies to produce solid fuels for resource recovery from faecal sludge
Journal article

To char or not to char? Review of technologies to produce solid fuels for resource recovery from faecal sludge

  • Andriessen, Nienke Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • Ward, Barbara J. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • Strande, Linda Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • 2019-4-4
Published in:
  • Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. - IWA Publishing. - 2019, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 210-224
Waste Management and Disposal
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Development
Pollution
Water Science and Technology
English Abstract
Resource recovery from faecal sludge can take many forms, including as a fuel, soil amendment, building material, protein, animal fodder, and water for irrigation. Resource recovery as a solid fuel has been found to have high market potential in Sub-Saharan Africa. Laboratory- and pilot-scale research on faecal sludge solid fuel production exists, but it is unclear which technology option is most suitable in which conditions. This review offers an overview and critical analysis of the current state of technologies that can produce a dried or carbonized solid fuel, including drying, pelletizing, hydrothermal carbonization, and slow-pyrolysis. Carbonization alters fuel properties, and in faecal sludge, it concentrates the ash content and decreases the calorific value. Overall, a non-carbonized faecal sludge fuel is recommended, unless a carbonized product is specifically required by the combustion technology or end user. Carbonized and non-carbonized fuels have distinct characteristics, and deciding whether to char or not to char is a key judgement in determining the optimal solid fuel technology option. Based on the existing evidence, this review provides a decision-making structure for selecting the optimal technology to produce a faecal sludge solid fuel and identifies the top research needs prior to full-scale implementation.
Language
  • English
Open access status
gold
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.rero.ch/global/documents/51671
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