Thermal characterization and syngas production from the pyrolysis of biophysical dried and traditional thermal dried sewage sludge.A novel method for energy recycling from sewage sludge was developed through biophysical drying coupled with fast pyrolysis.  Thermal decomposition properties of biophysical-dried sludge (BDS) and thermal-dried sludge (TDS) were characterized through thermogravimetric (TG) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.  BDS exhibited typical peaks in each differential thermogravimetric (DTG) region and presented slower mass loss rates in H, C, and L regions (180-550°C) but remarkable weight loss in region I (>550°C) compared with TDS.  Furthermore, fast pyrolysis of BDS was proven to facilitate syngas and char formation more than TDS.  For the yielded syngas, the thermal conversion of BDS was characterized by high H2 and CH4 content beyond 700°C.
THERM