Sewage Sludge as an alternative fuel source for cement production:

An attractive disposal method for sewage sludge is to use it as alternative fuel source in
cement industry. Sewage sludge has relatively high net calorific value of 10-20 MJ/kg as well as
lower carbon dioxide emissions factor compared to coal when treated in a cement kiln. Use of
sludge in cement kilns can also tackle the problem of safe and eco-friendly disposal of sewage
sludge. The cement industry accounts for almost 5 percent of anthropogenic CO2 emissions
worldwide.
The use of sewage sludge as alternative fuel in clinker production is one of the most
sustainable option for sludge waste management. Due to the high temperature in the kiln the
organic content of the sewage sludge will be completely destroyed. The sludge minerals will be
bound in the clinker after the burning process. The calorific value of sewage sludge depends on
the organic content and on the moisture content of the sludge. Dried sewage sludge with high
organic content possesses a high calorific value. Waste coming out of sewage sludge treatment
processes has a minor role as raw material substitute, due to their chemical composition.
The dried municipal sewage sludge has organic material content (ca. 40 – 45 wt %),
therefore the use of this alternative fuel in clinker production will save fossil CO2 emissions.
According to IPCC default of solid biomass fuel, the dried sewage sludge CO2 emission factor is
110 kg CO2/GJ without consideration of biogenic content. The usage of municipal sewage sludge
as fuel supports the saving of fossil fuel emission.

References
Lechtenberg, D. (2019, June 19). Uses of Sewage Sludge in Cement Industry. Retrieved from BioEnergy
Consult: https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/tag/uses-of-sewage-
sludge/?fbclid=IwAR3bqB_Epx-MSPdx0U7gEue8k1sczkOSPNMxXpNRQ-LlffIAGY4d1Vd1jD8