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Novel Use of Dairy Processing Sludge Derived Pyrogenic Char (DPS-PC) to Remove Phosphorus in Discharge Effluents

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Abstract

Purpose

Pyrogenic char (PC) materials derived from the pyrolysis of dairy processing sludge (DPS) could be a cost effective option to develop carbonaceous adsorbent for phosphorus (P) removal from wastewater. The main objectives of the present work were to: (1) determine the efficacy of DPS derived PC (DPS-PC) to remove P from synthetic and dairy wastewater samples, (2) identify possible P removal mechanisms, and identify parameters that could be used to quickly identify the P removal capacity of a char and (3) propose a ranking system for the selection of DPS-PC which includes energy, char yield and P removal criterion.

Methods

DPS-PC samples were obtained from the pyrolysis process (700 °C) of two sludge streams: (1) bio-chemically treated mixed sludge and (2) lime treated dissolved air floatation (DAF) sludge. Herein, 12 DPS-PC samples were assessed and pre-screened in batch experiments to determine the P removal efficacy from both synthetic and dairy wastewater solutions. The effect of solid to liquid dosage, contact time, pH and P concentration was investigated. Statistical regression and correlation analyses were performed to understand P removal mechanism. The quantitative assessment of char yield, energy balance and P removal performance were combined to propose a ranking system for DPS feedstock selection.

Results

P removal varied across DPS-PC type and composition, with mixed sludge derived char exhibiting 85–98% P removal at a dose of between 10 and 50 g/L, whereas, those from DAF sludge removed > 99% at 3 g/L. The P removal process was associated with a number of strongly significant mineral phase correlations pertaining to mineral composition (i.e. availability of Ca, Mg and Si) of the DPS-PC samples. A quick water extractible P test together with knowledge of the major P locking minerals can be used to pre-screen the potential of PC for P removal application. This study also provides a physicochemical reference and ranking of DPS feedstock selection, which will be useful for future investigation on the pyrolysis of DPS at pilot-scale and subsequently, to develop PC based efficient adsorbent for application in wastewater treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This work has received funding from Enterprise Ireland and the Dairy Industry Partners in Ireland under Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC) Programme. Grant Agreement Number TC2014 0016. We would like to thank DPTC associated dairy industry partners—Kerry Group, Arrabawn Co-op, Carbery Foods, Tipperary Co-op, Lakeland Dairies, Dairygold, Glanbia and Aurivo for supplying samples. In addition thanks to Denis Brennan, Linda Moloney Finn, Carmel O’Connor, Maria Radford and Brendan Healy from Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre for help during sample analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teagasc, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland

    S. M. Ashekuzzaman, Karl Richards & Owen Fenton

  2. Dairy Processing Technology Centre, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland

    Marzena Kwapinska

  3. Department of Chemical Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland

    J. J. Leahy

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  1. S. M. Ashekuzzaman
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Correspondence to S. M. Ashekuzzaman.

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Ashekuzzaman, S.M., Kwapinska, M., Leahy, J.J. et al. Novel Use of Dairy Processing Sludge Derived Pyrogenic Char (DPS-PC) to Remove Phosphorus in Discharge Effluents. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 1453–1465 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-019-00731-9

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