Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has ventured into a solar-powered process to convert sewage sludge into green hydrogen for clean energy and single-cell protein used in animal feed. The sludge-to-food-and-fuel method targets two critical global challenges about waste management and resource generation. Managing waste is challenging due to its composition of pathogens, contaminants and heavy metals.
The spread of urbanization and industries will increase the quantity of sewage sludge. Conventional disposal methods (incineration or landfill) are rated as time-consuming, energy-inefficient and polluting. NTU’s process is more efficient than conventional methods like anaerobic digestion. It recovers significantly more resources, eliminates heavy metal contaminants, requires a smaller environmental footprint and offers better economic feasibility.