TY - JOUR
T1 - Techno-economic and life cycle assessment of liquid biofuels obtained from municipal sewage sludge by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)
AU - Kapusta, Krzysztof
AU - Śliwińska, Anna
AU - Krawczyk, Piotr
AU - Wodołażski, Artur
AU - Strzoda, Ewelina
AU - Xu, Donghai
AU - Duan, Peigao
AU - Hao, Botian
AU - Wang, Yuanyuan
AU - Leng, Lijian
AU - Yang, Le
AU - Fan, Liangliang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2026/1/1
Y1 - 2026/1/1
N2 - This study presents the techno-economic and environmental assessment of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) as a promising technology for energy recovery and waste minimization. Experimental data from continuous-mode HTL and upgrading processes were used to simulate a commercial-scale installation. The main product, biocrude oil, was considered as feedstock for the production of low-carbon transportation fuels. Techno-economic evaluation using Dynamic Generation Cost (DGC), Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) indicated potential economic viability of the proposed concept. The calculated DGC was USD 0.90/L, NPV was USD 2.93 million, and IRR reached 5.2 %. Life cycle assessment (LCA) based on SimaPro software and ecoinvent v.3 database, applying the IPCC 2021 and ReCiPe 2016 methods, showed that the carbon footprint of the upgraded biofuel was 19 g CO2e/MJ, resulting in 80 % GHG savings compared to fossil fuels. The results demonstrate that continuous HTL of MSS followed by hydrotreatment is a feasible waste-to-fuel pathway contributing to circular economy and climate change mitigation.
AB - This study presents the techno-economic and environmental assessment of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) as a promising technology for energy recovery and waste minimization. Experimental data from continuous-mode HTL and upgrading processes were used to simulate a commercial-scale installation. The main product, biocrude oil, was considered as feedstock for the production of low-carbon transportation fuels. Techno-economic evaluation using Dynamic Generation Cost (DGC), Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) indicated potential economic viability of the proposed concept. The calculated DGC was USD 0.90/L, NPV was USD 2.93 million, and IRR reached 5.2 %. Life cycle assessment (LCA) based on SimaPro software and ecoinvent v.3 database, applying the IPCC 2021 and ReCiPe 2016 methods, showed that the carbon footprint of the upgraded biofuel was 19 g CO2e/MJ, resulting in 80 % GHG savings compared to fossil fuels. The results demonstrate that continuous HTL of MSS followed by hydrotreatment is a feasible waste-to-fuel pathway contributing to circular economy and climate change mitigation.
KW - Biocrude
KW - Biofuels
KW - Circular economy
KW - Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)
KW - Low carbon transport
KW - Sewage sludge management
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024473279
U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139543
DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139543
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:105024473279
SN - 0360-5442
VL - 342
JO - Energy
JF - Energy
M1 - 139543
ER -
