Recovery and Recycling of Aluminum from Wastewater Treatment Sludge

Abstract

Disposal of wastewater treatment sludge is a pressing environmental issue that calls for concern. Progress has been made in sewage sludge treatment, to release and recycle the inorganic metal fraction adsorbed onto the surface of the carbonaceous component of sewage sludge. A more specific attempt is made to isolate and release Aluminum metal. Two specific parameters, pyrolysis temperature and pH, are manipulated to optimize Aluminum metal release and precipitation. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on production of sludge-based adsorbents was found optimal at 800°C, while aluminum precipitation out of solution was found optimal at a pH of 6.