Emerging sewage sludge treatment technologies for land carbon sequestration: a comprehensive review

IF 3 4区环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Pub Date : 2025-08-24 DOI:10.1007/s10163-025-02369-3

Malgorzata Kacprzak, Jolanta Baran, Krzysztof Fijalkowski

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Sewage sludge management is a pressing environmental challenge due to high greenhouse gas emissions and inefficiencies in traditional methods such as landfilling and incineration. This review explores emerging and transformative technologies that align with carbon sequestration and sustainable land use. Novel approaches such as biochar production via pyrolysis, CaO-based stabilization to form calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and phosphorus recovery through struvite precipitation are emphasized for their dual roles in climate mitigation and enhancing soil fertility. Other innovative techniques, including hydrothermal carbonization and microbial stabilization, have been examined for their ability to stabilize carbon in persistent forms. This study highlights the novelty of combining carbon sequestration with nutrient recycling, which enables long-term environmental benefits. Biochar and Ca-based fertilizers demonstrate exceptional potential for integrating carbon capture with soil enhancement, whereas struvite offers an effective pathway for nutrient recovery. Environmental trade-offs—such as greenhouse gas emissions during treatment, potential contaminant risks, and energy demands—are assessed alongside the benefits of reduced synthetic fertilizer dependence, improved soil health, and carbon sequestration. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic analyses confirm the feasibility and sustainability of these technologies. This comprehensive review advances the understanding of innovative sewage sludge treatments, offering a framework for integrating carbon-negative solutions into waste management practices.

Graphical abstract

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用于土地固碳的新兴污泥处理技术综述

污水污泥管理是一个紧迫的环境挑战，由于高温室气体排放和低效率的传统方法，如填埋和焚烧。本综述探讨了与碳封存和可持续土地利用相一致的新兴和变革性技术。新方法，如生物炭热解生产，曹基稳定形成碳酸钙（CaCO3），磷通过鸟粪石降水回收强调了它们的双重作用，减缓气候变化和提高土壤肥力。其他创新技术，包括热液碳化和微生物稳定，已经被研究了它们稳定碳持久形式的能力。这项研究强调了将碳封存与养分循环结合起来的新颖性，这将带来长期的环境效益。生物炭和钙基肥料显示出将碳捕获与土壤增强相结合的特殊潜力，而鸟粪石则提供了有效的养分恢复途径。环境权衡——如处理过程中的温室气体排放、潜在的污染物风险和能源需求——与减少对合成肥料的依赖、改善土壤健康和碳封存的好处一起进行了评估。生命周期评估（LCA）和经济分析证实了这些技术的可行性和可持续性。这篇全面的综述促进了对创新污水污泥处理的理解，为将碳负解决方案纳入废物管理实践提供了一个框架。图形抽象

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来源期刊

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

16.10%

发文量

205

审稿时长

4.8 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management has a twofold focus: research in technical, political, and environmental problems of material cycles and waste management; and information that contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary science of material cycles and waste management. Its aim is to develop solutions and prescriptions for material cycles. The journal publishes original articles, reviews, and invited papers from a wide range of disciplines related to material cycles and waste management. The journal is published in cooperation with the Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM) and the Korea Society of Waste Management (KSWM).