Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to utilize organic industrial wastewater sludge for producing briquettes. The sources of organic wastewater sludge were from brewery and food industries. The experiments started with improving the quality of sludge collected by using both aerobic and anaerobic processes. Sludge without any pretreatment was used as a control. The eucalyptus leaves were used here to increase the heating value of sludge. The optimal mixing ratios between sludge and eucalyptus leaves were 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 food sludge was contained very high moisture content (95%) because it was not dewatered at the collection site. This made it very difficult to conduct any treatment afterward. Regarding the brewery sludge, it was easier to conduct pre-treatment by both aerobic and anaerobic processes because it was dewatered at the site. The result gained of brewery sludge pre-treatment was that its heating value was decreased after pre-treatment processes. The results obtained also indicated that the optimal mixing ratios between brewery sludge and eucalyptus leaves were 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 by volume which could easily be briquetted and was consumed lesser time for briquetting. The optimal mixing ratios between food sludge and eucalyptus leaves were found at 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 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 food sludge and eucalyptus leaves 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 food and brewery sludge, the sludge obtained from a brewery industry was much easier to handle than the one collected from a food industry.