North Carolina State University aim to turn paper sludge into biofuel

In North Carolina, researchers from North Carolina State University, in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, are seeking to turn a waste product of pulp and paper mills known as “paper sludge” into a high-performance biofuel. The three-year grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and provides the researchers with more than $2.5 million.

Sludge fuel is created by separating carbohydrates from paper sludge and converting them into a usable form of hydrocarbon, which can then be added to jet or diesel fuel to make it more sustainable, economical and environmentally friendly. The team is also seeking to reduce the production cost by integrating and optimizing the overall conversion process. This innovative technique could create approximately 150 million gallons of sludge fuel per year given the current supply of paper sludge.