Sustainable solutions for co-gasification of sewage sludge and biomass: Insights from Aspen Plus, response surface methodology, and multi-criteria decision-making integration
Huanchen Tang, Jingyang Dong, Dan Mei, Di Xu, Jinhai Yuan, Lichun Dong
Abstract
This paper presents a novel framework integrating process simulation, optimization, and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to identify sustainable co-gasification solutions for sewage sludge (SS) and biomass. Gasifier modeling in Aspen Plus, validated with experimental data, evaluated five feedstock blend routes. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on key gasification parameters, while Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimized process routes by revealing complex relationships between variables and performance metrics. MCDM was applied to assess alternatives based on eight criteria covering environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The study introduced an integrated objective weighting method, leveraging data variations and correlations, alongside a vector-based ranking approach for prioritizing solutions. Results indicated that a biomass-to-sewage sludge ratio of 3:7, under co-gasification conditions of 649.72°C, 1.13 atm, and a steam to feedstock ratio of 0.5, achieved the highest sustainability score of 0.506. This configuration outperformed other alternatives in terms of sustainability. Validation through three distinct analytic methods confirmed the robustness of the MCDM framework. In general, this work integrates simulation, RSM optimization, and MCDM analysis into a streamlined tool, offering a systematic progression from process simulation to decision-making. It reduces the reliance on costly trial-and-error experimentation while ensuring optimal operating conditions and comprehensive sustainability evaluation. These contributions tackle key challenges in data handling, optimization, and assessment, enabling more sustainable and cost-effective environmental technology innovations. • Development of a framework to streamline simulation, optimization, and sustainability assessment. • Aspen Plus enables efficient simulation of biomass/sewage sludge gasification. • Identification of operational-target variable interactions by RSM, optimizing processes. • MCDM methods offer a comprehensive perspective for sustainability assessment. • Introduction of an integrated objective weighting method for weight assignment. • PRSRV ranking method proves effective for prioritizing gasification processes.