Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to utilize industrial wastewater sludge for producing briquettes. The sources of wastewater sludge were from seasoning powder and milk industries. The experiments started with improving the quality of sludge collected by using anaerobic processes. Sludge without any pretreatment was used as a control. The paddy husk was used here to increase the heating value of sludge. The optimal mixing ratios between sludge and paddy husk was tested. Finally, the controlled sludge was improved its quality by burning into charcoals, as specified by ASTM. The cold compression type was used here for briquetting. The results of sludge pre-treatment showed that the milk sludge was contained very high moisture content (90%) because it was not dewatered at the collection site. Regarding the seasoning powder sludge, it was easier to conduct pretreatment by anaerobic processes because it was dewatered at the site. The result gained of seasoning powder and milk sludge pre-treatment was that its heating value was decreased after pre-treatment processes.The result obtained also indicated that the optimal mixing ratio between seasoning powder sludge and paddy husk was 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 by volume which could easily be briquettes and was consumed lesser time for briquetting. The optimal mixing ratios between milk sludge and paddy husk were found at 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 by volume. The briquetted fuel was tested for its physical and combustion properties. It was found that the solid fuel made from the mixing of seasoning powder sludge and paddy husk gave high combustion efficiency and good physical properties close to charcoal wood fuel with less amount of sulfur content. In case of burnt controlled sludge, it was found that its efficiency in term of energy released to boil water was increased. In addition, comparing between seasoning powder and milk sludge , he sludge obtained from a seasoning powder industry was much easier to handle than the one collected from a seasoning powder industry.