Tar-free fuel gas production from high temperature pyrolysis of sewage sludge

Pyrolysis of sewage sludge was studied in a free-fall reactor at 1000-1400 °C. The results showed that the volatile matter in the sludge could be completely released to gaseous product at 1300 °C. The high temperature was in favor of H2 and CO in the produced gas. However, the low heating value (LHV) of the gas decreased from 15.68 MJ/Nm(3) to 9.10 MJ/Nm(3) with temperature increasing from 1000 °C to 1400 °C. The obtained residual solid was characterized by high ash content. The energy balance indicated that the most heating value in the sludge was in the gaseous product.