Abstract

JUAREZ-HERNANDEZ, Sergio  and  CASTRO-GONZALEZ, Alejandra. Technical and economic feasibility of hydrogen production using sludge from wastewater treatment and other wastes. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.2, pp.137-147. ISSN 2007-2422.

ECOVIA is a project from one of the lines of research of the UNAM's macro-project "La Ciudad Universitaria y la Energía" (University City and Energy). Its main objective is to transform University City (UC) into a model of efficient energy use. ECOVIA is a hybrid car - the first nationally - which operates with batteries and a hydrogen fuel cell (H2). This fuel cell consumes 10.6587 gH2/minute which translate into 10 million pesos per year. Since dark-fermentation is an innovative technology for the production of hydrogen, a semi-industrial plant to apply this technology is proposed. Sludge from the wastes from the UC wastewater treatment plant is estimated to be 45 tons/day, which added to organic wastes from a pig farm and restaurants in CU, results in a total of 46.18 ton/day. This generates 14.2678 kgH2 without purification or 9.98746 kgH2 with a purity of 99.999%, as required by the ECOVIA fuel cell. The proposal for the hydrogen plant - which is technically, economically, and financially feasible - estimates the need for an initial investment of 4.5 million pesos, which can be recovered in the first year of the plant's operations. At the same time, costs of waste collection and transportation would decrease ($1 540 080 pesos/year). The environmental impact of the project is a reduction in emissions of 131.901 CO2 metric tons/day and minimization of the release of untreated wastes into the environment.

Keywords : dark-fermentation; wastes; sludge; wastewater treatment; hydrogen; feasibility.

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