Energy
Circular Economy Sewage Sludge
Sewage sludge, which is fully of organics and nutrients, is often used for fertiliser. But sewage sludge can contain pathogens, microplastics, heavy metals, PFAS and chemicals. Pyrolysis (high heat/no oxygen) is a process often used to render biomass (sludge) safe. RMIT have developed a novel pyrolysis reactor which optimises heat/mass transfer processes. This translates directly into savings in capital and operating costs. It also delivers a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions, while shrinking the tech to make it highly mobile. Trials of the new reactor in real-world applications are underway in Victoria, Australia.