https://newatlas.com/materials/sustainable-pyrolysis-process-converts-sewage-sludge-activated-carbon/

Researchers from the University of Córdoba, Spain, have devised a sustainable method for transforming sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, into valuable activated carbon, crucial for various industrial and residential purposes. Through pyrolysis, a process of thermal decomposition, and activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH), the researchers achieved high-surface-area activated carbons from the sludge. By optimizing parameters like KOH ratio, pyrolysis time, and temperature, they obtained a yield of 0.63 kg of activated carbon per kilogram of sewage sludge, with a significantly reduced KOH amount, leading to a more porous and cost-effective product. Energy and economic calculations revealed potential cost reductions through pre-treatment methods like centrifugation. This innovative technique holds promise for industrial-scale application, offering a sustainable solution to both waste management and the production of high-value materials.