Convective drying of sawdust/sludge mixtures in a fixed bed: The effect of sludge origin

Sludges collected from Oupeye WWTP (MS=80%), Grosses Battes WWTP (MS=85.5%), and Embourg WWTP (MS=88%) in Belgium and presenting different properties were used. The influence of the sawdust/sludge ratio on convective drying was investigated in a fixed bed. X-ray tomography was used to assess changes in volume, exchange surface and void fraction. Results showed that the average drying rates were 0.062 (Oupeye), 0.079 g/s (Grosses Battes) and 0.042 g/s (Embourg) respectively, using raw sludges. For sawdust/sludge mixtures with the mass ratio of 4/6, the average drying rates of sludges were improved (Oupeye: 0.092 g/s, Grosses Battes: 0.106 g/s, Embourg: 0.049 g/s).