Biomass fuel production from cellulosic sludge through biodrying: Aeration strategies, quality of end-products, gaseous emissions and techno-economic assessment

This study assesses the technological, environmental and economic feasibility of biodrying to valorise cellulosic sludge as a renewable energy source. Specifically, three different aeration strategies were compared in terms performance, energetic consumption, gaseous emissions, quality end-products techno-economic analysis. These based on combinations convective drying with biogenic heat produced. Two innovative performance indicators (Energetic Biodrying Index Performance Index) proposed better assess initial operational conditions that favour maximum process efficiency highest end-product quality. The obtained consistently presented moisture contents below 40% lower heating values above 9.4 MJ·kg-1. However, best achieved 32.6% 10.4 MJ·kg-1 for content value, respectively. Low N2O CH4 emissions confirmed effective all carried out, while NH4 tVOCs related either temperature or biological phenomena. A analysis proved viability attractiveness technology applied.