Carbon-containing gaseous pollutants emission characteristics during municipal sewage sludge combustion and pyrolysis with TG-MS technique

In this study, the carbon-containing gaseous pollutants emission characteristics during municipal sewage sludge combustion and pyrolysis were investigated by using simultaneous thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) method. The results indicated that the sewage sludge possesses different devolatilization characteristics in the terms of mass loss and gas evolution. The main decomposition of sewage sludge during the combustion process was divided into four stages, and only first three ones existed during sludge pyrolysis. The evolved carbon-containing gaseous products (CO₂ and light hydrocarbons) emission behaviours during combustion and pyrolysis were different. This research provided basic data support and background knowledge for municipal sewage sludge thermal disposal and fuel gas treatment, which could help to control the gaseous pollutants during sewage sludge thermal treatment. (paper)