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Comparative LCA and Mass–Energy Evaluation of Thermal Sewage Sludge Treatment Pathways: Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis, and HTC.

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Title: Comparative LCA and Mass–Energy Evaluation of Thermal Sewage Sludge Treatment Pathways: Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis, and HTC.
Authors: Poranek, Nikolina1,2 (AUTHOR) nikolina.poranek@polsl.pl, Billig, Tomasz2,3 (AUTHOR), Wajda, Agata3 (AUTHOR), Pikoń, Krzysztof1,4 (AUTHOR), Iluk, Tomasz1,3 (AUTHOR), Lagashkin, Ruslan2,4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energies (19961073). Feb2026, Vol. 19 Issue 3, p815. 20p.
Subject Terms: *Incineration, *Hydrothermal carbonization, *Biomass gasification, *Sludge management, *Pyrolysis, *Product life cycle assessment, *Waste recycling
Abstract: Sewage sludge management is a major challenge in modern wastewater treatment, as sludge contains organic matter, nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants. Increasing wastewater volumes from urbanization and population growth have led to steadily rising global sludge production, emphasizing the need for sustainable and resource-efficient treatment strategies. Conventional methods—such as landfilling, land application, and biological treatment—face limitations due to contaminant risks, regulatory restrictions, and incomplete pollutant removal. Thermal and thermochemical processes offer substantial volume reduction, energy recovery, and resource valorization. Incineration is widely implemented and ensures complete oxidation but requires high energy input and emission control. Gasification and pyrolysis produce syngas, bio-oil, and biochar, supporting circular economy applications, while hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) efficiently converts wet sludge into hydrochar without intensive drying. This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) and mass–energy assessment of these four thermal treatment methods, highlighting their environmental impacts, energy efficiencies, and resources' recovery potential to support more sustainable sludge management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 191587294
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Comparative LCA and Mass–Energy Evaluation of Thermal Sewage Sludge Treatment Pathways: Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis, and HTC.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Poranek%2C+Nikolina%22">Poranek, Nikolina</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> nikolina.poranek@polsl.pl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Billig%2C+Tomasz%22">Billig, Tomasz</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wajda%2C+Agata%22">Wajda, Agata</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pikoń%2C+Krzysztof%22">Pikoń, Krzysztof</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Iluk%2C+Tomasz%22">Iluk, Tomasz</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lagashkin%2C+Ruslan%22">Lagashkin, Ruslan</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 19 Issue 3, p815. 20p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Incineration%22">Incineration</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydrothermal+carbonization%22">Hydrothermal carbonization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomass+gasification%22">Biomass gasification</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sludge+management%22">Sludge management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pyrolysis%22">Pyrolysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Product+life+cycle+assessment%22">Product life cycle assessment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Waste+recycling%22">Waste recycling</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Sewage sludge management is a major challenge in modern wastewater treatment, as sludge contains organic matter, nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants. Increasing wastewater volumes from urbanization and population growth have led to steadily rising global sludge production, emphasizing the need for sustainable and resource-efficient treatment strategies. Conventional methods—such as landfilling, land application, and biological treatment—face limitations due to contaminant risks, regulatory restrictions, and incomplete pollutant removal. Thermal and thermochemical processes offer substantial volume reduction, energy recovery, and resource valorization. Incineration is widely implemented and ensures complete oxidation but requires high energy input and emission control. Gasification and pyrolysis produce syngas, bio-oil, and biochar, supporting circular economy applications, while hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) efficiently converts wet sludge into hydrochar without intensive drying. This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) and mass–energy assessment of these four thermal treatment methods, highlighting their environmental impacts, energy efficiencies, and resources' recovery potential to support more sustainable sludge management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19030815
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 815
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Incineration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hydrothermal carbonization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biomass gasification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sludge management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pyrolysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Product life cycle assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Waste recycling
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Comparative LCA and Mass–Energy Evaluation of Thermal Sewage Sludge Treatment Pathways: Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis, and HTC.
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            NameFull: Poranek, Nikolina
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            NameFull: Billig, Tomasz
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            NameFull: Wajda, Agata
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            NameFull: Iluk, Tomasz
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            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 19
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            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
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