Use of sewage sludge for manufacturing adsorbents

This paper demonstrates that digested sludge can be reclaimed as an adsorbent for the removal of organic vapors (MEK, TOL and TCE) through the use of a pyrolysis. The manufactured adsorbent products were characterized by Brunauer, Emmentt and Teller (BET) surface area, carbon tetrachloride activity (ANSI/ASIM D3467–76'), and an elemental analysis test. Both the determination of CCl₄ activity and BET surface area were regarded as the useful means for estimation of the adsorption capacity of organic vapors on the reclaimed adsorbents. From the view point of specific surface area (CCl₄ activity number or adsorption capacity), it was concluded that the optimum condition for manufacturing the reclaimed adsorbent was by adding 5 kmols/m³ ZnCl₂ to the treated sludge and then heating the mixture at 550°C for 1 hour.