A pile of coal in front of industrial chimneys.Credit: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg Creative Photos/ Getty Images.
Combining coal waste and sewage sludge, which are then put through a thermal process, is a viable way to reduce energy consumption and pollution.
Jean Mulopo and colleagues, from the University of Witwatersrand, in South Africa conducted studies into how to improve preparation, and wastewater treatment plants, to reduce the burden of waste disposal.
Th team collected Coal Tailing (CT) and Coal Slurry (CS) from a coal plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Sewage Sludge (SS) was collected from a wastewater from the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) which was put through high thermal treatment.
Using heat to convert the coal waste and sewage sludge into hydro char with improved properties for energy use.
Mulopo said the finding is “significant for Africa because carbonaceous materials offer a low-cost framework for contributing to climate change mitigation, supporting local ecosystems, and creating jobs using waste materials”.
“Waste generation in African countries is expected to more than triple by 2050. When it comes to waste management, cities, and local governments across the African continent face numerous challenges. As a result, an increasing number of people live in areas with insufficient waste management systems, putting their health and the environment at risk,” he added.
