Recovering bio-energy from waste sludge

Australian company, Environmental Solutions International Ltd. has developed a process, called EnerSludge, for recovering energy from waste sludge. The process consists of sludge dewatering in a centrifuge, drying, removing organic compounds at 450 C, catalysing the organics to hydrocarbons and condensing them for use as fuel. Non-condensable hydrocarbons pass to a hot gas generator where they are burned to produce heat, which is used to dry the incoming sludge cake. The three main products of the EnerSludge process are synthetic oil, inert ash and combustion heat. The benefits of the EnerSludge process over sludge incineration are described.