Oxy-fuel co-combustion dynamics of phytoremediation biomass and textile dyeing sludge: Gas-to-ash pollution abatement.

The environmental pressures of major wastes in the circular economies can be abated leveraging the complementarity and optimal conditions of their co-combustion. The oxy-fuel co-combustion of phytoremediation biomass of Sedum alfredii Hance (SAH) and textile dyeing sludge (TDS) may be a promising choice for sustainable CO2 capture and a waste-to-energy conversion. This study characterized and quantified their co-combustion performances, kinetics, and interactions as a function of blend ratio, atmosphere type, and temperature. With a focus on the characteristic elements of SAH (Ca, K, Zn, and Cd) and TDS (Al and S), changes in the mineral phases and ash melting and slagging trends of K2O-Al2O3-SiO2 and CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 systems were quantified. The Zn and Cd residual rates of the co-combustion of 75% SAH and 25% TDS rose by 58.52% and 5.93%, respectively, in the oxy-fuel atmosphere at the 30% oxygen concentration, relative to the mono-combustion of SAH in the air atmosphere. The co-combustion in the oxy-fuel atmosphere at the 20% oxygen concentration delayed the release peaks of SO2, C2S, and H2S, while the Ca-rich SAH captured S in TDS through the formation of CaSO4. Our findings provide new and practical insights into the oxy-fuel co-combustion toward the enhanced co-circularity.

Emission-to-ash detoxification mechanisms of co-combustion of spent pot lining and pulverized coal.

In response to the global initiative for greenhouse gas emission reduction, the co-combustion of coal and spent pot lining (SPL) may cost-effectively minimize waste streams and environmental risks. This study aimed to quantify the emission-to-ash detoxification mechanisms of the co-combustion of SPL and pulverized coal (PC) and their kinetics, gas emission, fluorine-leaching toxicity, mineral phases, and migrations. The main reaction covered the ranges of 335-540 °C and 540-870 °C while the interactions occurred at 360-780 °C. The apparent activation energy minimized (66.99 kJ/mol) with 90% PC addition. The rising PC fraction weakened the peak intensity of NaF and strengthened that of Ca2F, NaAlSiO4, and NaAlSi2O6. The addition of PC enhanced the combustion efficiency of SPL and raised the melting temperature by capturing Na. PC exhibited a positive effect on solidifying water-soluble fluorine and stabilizing alkali and alkaline earth metals. The leaching fluorine concentrations of the co-combustion ashes were lower than did SPL mono-combustion. The main gases emitted were HF, NH3, NOx, CO, and CO2. HF was largely released at above 800 °C. Multivariate Gaussian process model-based optimization of the operational conditions also verified the gas emissions results. Our study synchronizes the utilization and detoxification of SPL though co-combustion and provides insights into an eco-friendlier life-cycle control on the waste-to-energy conversion.