• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-72
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• 2009

In order to utilize sewage sludge as a heat source of energy, it goes without saying that the fuel should be clean and pose no threat to the environment. As a consequent, it should not contain even minute quantities of heavy metals / impurities. The SOCA (Sludge-Oil-Coal- Agglomerates) fuel can meet all these requirements. SOCA being a solid fuel can be gasified for the production of clean energy. Wet catalytic gasification is the most appropriate process for SOCA containing nearly 60% water. It is important to note that the SOCA thus obtained inherits ca. 40~50% of sulfur from the coal used. It can poison the catalyst during catalytic gasification process. Consequently, it becomes important to choose a proper catalyst for the gasification. Calcium was found to be ideal choice as a catalyst for the gasification of SOCA. The optimal gasification was performed at $850^{\circ}C$ with water vapor. The role of fuel-N is of utmost importance in the gasification of SOCA. The gasification should be controlled to reduce the production of HCN to a minimum and enhance its conversion to $N_2$ and/or $NH_3$.