Turning Sludge into Energy and Reducing Landfill Waste
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TAPPI’s International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference (November 2 –4, 2020) has gone virtual, offering bio-concerned pulp and paper professionals the opportunity to easily learn about new innovations from the comfort of their home or mill office.
Program sessions cover a variety of topics, including:
- Supporting the Sustainable Bioeconomy
- Biomass Processing and Conversion Pathways
- Advances in Bioenergy Research
- Wood Based Foams and Packaging Films
- Biocomposites and Bioproducts
Producing Pellets from Sludge
One of three presentations in the Biomass Processing and Conversions session concerns producing pellets from primary and secondary sludge to reduce landfill impact and serve as an alternative energy resource. In the study, Brazilian researchers sought ways to address a significant increase in waste generation spurred by expansion in the industry and subsequent pulp production.
“The establishment of novel forms of treatment and reuse of waste materials is important from an environmental and economic standpoint, and follows the worldwide trend toward a circular economy,” noted the study’s primary author Bruna Virginia Rodrqigues. Rodrqigues is a graduate student in forest science at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), with experience in industrial solid waste management and cellulosic pulp and wood chemistry.
Less Waste, More Energy
Attendees of this session will learn firsthand how thermochemical conversion of sludge proved to be an interesting option, generating two byproducts in the process. The first product, ash, represents a much smaller waste volume and helps facilitate transport and final disposal. The other product is steam which can be used for energy in mills.
IBBC is co-located with TAPPI’s Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability (PEERS) Conference. Attendees can attend both virtual events for only one registration fee.
To register and learn more about each session and speakers, visit tappi-ibbc.org. Attendees are encouraged to also participate in the co-located events’ first-ever virtual Fun Run. Learn more here.
Benefitting the Bottom Line
There are many benefits to sponsoring or exhibiting at the first-ever virtual PEERS/IBBC conferences. With Gold and Silver options you can get a virtual booth with videos, downloadable promotional materials, meetings with attendees, session sponsorships and more. To learn how your company can benefit, view our Exhibitor/Sponsor flyer.