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TG–MS analysis of thermal behavior and gaseous emissions during co-combustion of straw with municipal sewage sludge

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Abstract

The thermal behavior and gas product distribution during combustion of straw (wheat straw, corn stalks, and cotton stalks), municipal sewage sludge (MSS), and their blends were investigated by thermogravimetry–mass spectroscopy. The experiments were conducted with various blending ratios and temperatures ranging from 323 to 1,173 K. Addition of MSS decreased the combustion performance of the straw. The reactions between wheat straw and corn stalks with MSS proceeded more easily than that of cotton stalks. Significant interactions were observed between the straw and MSS at the char combustion stage. Gaseous species (CO2, SO2, NH3, HCN, and NO) were mainly produced at temperatures of 523–873 K at which most of the mass loss occurred. Higher MSS proportions in the blends resulted in lower emissions peaks for CO2, NH3, HCN, and NO except for SO2. To ensure combustion performance and mitigate problematic gaseous emissions, the proportion of MSS added to the blends should be <30 mass%.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51106157).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Linna Li, Qiangqiang Ren, Xin Wang, Shiyuan Li & Qinggang Lu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Linna Li & Xin Wang

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  1. Linna Li
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  2. Qiangqiang Ren
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  3. Xin Wang
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  4. Shiyuan Li
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  5. Qinggang Lu
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Correspondence to Qiangqiang Ren.

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Li, L., Ren, Q., Wang, X. et al. TG–MS analysis of thermal behavior and gaseous emissions during co-combustion of straw with municipal sewage sludge. J Therm Anal Calorim 118, 449–460 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3952-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3952-7

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