Bioconversion of wind turbine blades
Kouh Bor, Mahdi (2025)
Diplomityö
2025
School of Engineering Science, Kemiantekniikka
Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251208115768
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251208115768
Tiivistelmä
This study investigates the biodegradation potential of wind turbine blade composites using activated sludge and evaluates whether thermal pre-treatment can enhance microbial decomposition. While microbial degradation of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites has been explored previously, no earlier research has examined the combined effect of activated sludge and controlled thermal weakening of epoxy-based composites prior to microbial exposure. This work addresses that gap by applying hydrothermal treatment (200 °C and 250 °C) and low-severity thermal treatment (250 °C and 300 °C), followed by incubation in activated sludge for 25, 50, and 75 days.
A comprehensive set of analytical techniques, FTIR, TGA, three-point bending tests, SEM imaging, and gravimetric assessment, was used to characterise chemical, thermal, and mechanical changes during the degradation process. Collectively, these results demonstrate that activated sludge can induce early-stage biodegradation of epoxy composites. However, taken as a whole, the experiments suggest that thermal pre-treatment does not improve biodegradability and may even suppress microbial degradation under the tested conditions, likely due to thermally induced structural modifications.
Taken together, this study provides the first integrated evaluation of thermal pre-treatment combined with activated sludge exposure for epoxy-based wind turbine blade composites. While thermal pre-treatment alters structural and chemical characteristics, it does not appear to accelerate microbial degradation, indicating that alternative strategies are needed to support effective bio-assisted recycling of composite blade waste.
A comprehensive set of analytical techniques, FTIR, TGA, three-point bending tests, SEM imaging, and gravimetric assessment, was used to characterise chemical, thermal, and mechanical changes during the degradation process. Collectively, these results demonstrate that activated sludge can induce early-stage biodegradation of epoxy composites. However, taken as a whole, the experiments suggest that thermal pre-treatment does not improve biodegradability and may even suppress microbial degradation under the tested conditions, likely due to thermally induced structural modifications.
Taken together, this study provides the first integrated evaluation of thermal pre-treatment combined with activated sludge exposure for epoxy-based wind turbine blade composites. While thermal pre-treatment alters structural and chemical characteristics, it does not appear to accelerate microbial degradation, indicating that alternative strategies are needed to support effective bio-assisted recycling of composite blade waste.