Co-smouldering of Biosolids from Wastewater Treatment Plants with Agricultural Residues in a Self-Sustaining Manner

In Australia, the high annual production of wet biosolids (moisture content of >85 wt%) from wastewater treatment plants poses great challenges for their proper disposal or use. Conventional biosolids management approaches (e.g., agricultural applications and landfilling) encounter environmental risks and are expensive due to high moisture content of biosolids and long transportation distances required, necessitating the development of novel alternative technologies for biosolids treatment. Recently, smouldering combustion has been successfully employed for treating biosolids in a robust and self-sustaining manner, enabling significant reduction of biosolids’ mass and volume. However, the inherent moisture content of dewatered biosolids is still considerably higher than the maximum value allowed for self-sustaining smouldering. Partial drying is thus required for moisture reduction. Conventional thermal drying is energy-intensive, offsetting the key advantage (energy saving) of smouldering combustion. Instead, a simple but innovative indirect drying process is proposed here. Specifically, dry agricultural residues are blended with wet biosolids to reduce the moisture content of the fuel mixture to the level required for self-sustainable smouldering. The fuel mixture is then smouldered in a self-sustaining manner for destructing biosolids. This PhD project will experimentally explore the fundamental questions that are essential for the industrial application of the co-smouldering technology.

If you meet the HDR admission requirements (https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/research-students/how-to-apply) please send an e-mail directly to PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR with following information:
- Email subject:
Please write the follow “Prospective PhD” and the title of the project you are enquiring about.

- Email body:
provide the following information;
1. Your academic & research background, experiences, and research interests.
2. When you expect to start your PhD if successful.

- Attachments:
CV and academic transcript

Applications accepted by May 30th, 2020 or until position is filled.