Products from pyrolysis textile sludge as a potential antibacterial and alternative source of fuel oil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of textile sludge and its pyrolysis by-products in the energy sector and the potential use of the oily phase fraction (OPF) as an antibacterial against selected microorganisms. Characterization assays were carried out, for the raw textile sludge (TS) and pyrolysis by-products, as pH variation, elemental analysis, metal content, FTIR, and higher heating value. The OPF was also fractionated using a column chromatography with different solvents (n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol) as mobile phases, and then each fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Due to the biocide activity of the OPF, antibacterial assays were carried out against Escherichia coli (ATCC 700336), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC BAA-47), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 10031). From the results, it was observed that: the obtained OPF was able to high inhibition performance in the bacterial growth at concentrations >17 mg mL-1; and the TS, OPF, and tar (TRF) presented higher heating value > 20 MJ kg-1. The results show the potential use of OPF as a low-cost antibacterial agent and the feasibility of using textile sludge and pyrolytic oil fractions as an alternative source of fuel for energy generation.