Efficient dewatering of waste gasification fine slag based on mechanical pressure-vacuum fields: Dewatering characteristics, energy optimization and potential environmental benefits

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 320; p. 115881
• Main Authors: Guo, Fanhui, Qiu, Guofeng, Guo, Yang, Jia, Wenke, Chen, Liqing, Zhang, Yixin, Jiang, Lixiang, Hu, Xianghong, Wu, Jianjun, Zhang, Haijun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2022
• Subjects: Coal gasification fine slag; Dewatering process optimization; Energy consumption analysis; Potential environmental benefits; Waste disposal; Energy consumption analysis; Coal gasification fine slag; Waste disposal; Dewatering process optimization; Potential environmental benefits
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115881

Landfill is the major waste disposal method of high-moisture coal gasification fine slag (GFS) which causes the pollution of soil and water and brings the waste of resources. GFS efficient dewatering is an urgent problem to be solved, which is beneficial to realize its resource utilization. In this paper, mechanical pressure and vacuum coupling energy fields are applied to carry out the dewatering processes of GFS. The pressure field provides strong power for water migration, which makes water leave the particle system, while the vacuum field provides traction for water removal from system. The fine slag produced from Coal-to-methanol (named JC) with larger size particles tends to form “bridging” frameworks among particles, which provides water occurrence space and increases the moisture migration resistance. The mechanical dewatering process has an energy advantage interval, when the sample moisture is reduced to a certain degree, the mechanical force field is mainly used for particle friction and breakage but not for moisture migration. Through dewatering process energy optimization, high moisture gasification fine slag can be removed about 15% water within 30s and energy consumption of efficient dewatering is 2.63 kJ/g which is much lower than that of drying. Efficient dewatering is benefit to the GFS recycling which reduces hazardous materials release to environment. The potential effects of high efficiency dewatering process on GFS resource utilization and the possible eco-design framework for products recycled from the waste GFS were proposed. The research results will provide theoretical guidance for the gasification fine slag efficient dewatering and is benefit to the environment. •Efficient dewatering mechanism based on coupling mechanical pressure-vacuum is proposed.•Structural properties of GFS can influence the dewatering effects.•Energy consumption of efficient dewatering is 2.63 kJ/g which is much lower than drying.•Efficient dewatering is benefit to the GFS recycling which reduces pollution release.•Environmental benefits and eco-design based on GFS efficient dewatering are proposed.