ISSN: 0256-1115 (print version) ISSN: 1975-7220 (electronic version)
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In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Publication history
Received March 19, 2026
Accepted June 2, 2026
Available online October 25, 2026
articles This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Most Cited

Operational Strategies for Syngas Quality Enhancement and HeavyMetal Emission Reduction in Sludge–Waste Co-Gasification

Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology 1Center for Environmental Sustainability and Human Health, Ming Chi University of Technology 2Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology 3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung
cllin0407@nuk.edu.tw
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, October 2026, 43(12), 3299-3309(11)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-026-00766-4

Abstract

This study optimized hydrogen-rich syngas production and examined the concomitant migration of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, 

and Zn) during the co-gasification of sewage sludge and simulated waste in a two-stage reactor system. When the secondstage

temperature was increased from 700 °C to 900 °C, the H2 concentration increased significantly from 22.18 mol% to 

37.73 mol%. Although higher temperatures improve syngas quality, they increase Zn and Pb emission rates, whereas Cu 

remains predominantly in the bottom ash because of its higher boiling point. This study focused on sustainable energy 

and environmental technologies by providing a systematic operational framework for waste-to-energy conversion. A twostage

gasification process was employed to co-gasify sewage sludge with the simulated waste. Unlike studies that focused 

on the syngas yield, this study integrated the evaluation of syngas quality enhancement with the migration behavior of 

heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn). These results provide a strategic operational benchmark for maximizing hydrogen energy 

recovery, while simultaneously mitigating environmental risks from trace pollutants, which is critical for sustainable 

waste-to-energy frameworks.

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