In this study, conversion of treating sludge from the wastewater treatment facility of a petrochemical plant to
liquid hydrocarbons under near-critical and supercritical conditions was investigated by using water and toluene
as solvent. Near- and supercritical water extraction (SCWE) of sewage sludge was studied at temperatures of
350−450 °C and pressures of 21.5−30 MPa. Near- and supercritical toluene extraction (SCTE) of sewage
sludge was studied at temperatures of 300−450 °C and pressures of 8.5−20 MPa. The studies were performed
with different solvent/sludge ratios (3, 1.5, and 1) for 1 h, and the optimum solvent/sludge ratio was found
to be 1; it was also the value at which the highest total product yield was obtained. The results revealed that
total product yield increased with increasing temperature. The yields of liquids, noncondensable gases, and
residue were determined for each extraction run. The liquid yields for SCWE and SCTE were found in the
range of 42.0−44.4 and 44.9−28.5 wt %, respectively. The gas yields for SCWE and SCTE were found in
the range of 15.3−20.4 and 8.9−30.2 wt %, respectively. Gas products consisted mainly of hydrogen, carbon
dioxide, methane, and C2−C4 compounds.
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