Abstract: As the process by-product generated from the wastewater treatment plant, excess municipal sludge has turned into a special challenge in the global environment, due to its huge output and potential biochemical contamination. Utilizing sludge as carbon rich precursor and converting it into functional carbon materials by thermochemical method may be a promising way for the disposal and re-utilization of sludge. Through the systematic investigation of the synthesis and modification of sludge-derived carbon functional materials and the in-situ pollution control during the pyrolysis, it was found that the postchemical activation method has a stronger pore-forming ability compared with other methods, and the potassium compounds possess superior activation effect. The physical and chemical adsorption and specific catalytic properties of the sludge carbon materials can be strengthened by surface oxidation, ammoniation or sulfonation process, thus being favorable to expand the material application scope. Sludge carbon-nanostructure composite can endow the material multiple characteristics and improve the stability and dispersion of the nanostructure. Based on the discussion of thermochemical transformation of typical elements in sludge, the production path of sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide is clarified, and meanwhile it is found that the metal oxide blending pyrolysis and heat source optimization can significantly inhibit the emission of pollutants.

Key words: municipal sludge, pyrolysis, pore-forming method, surface modification, pyrolysis product, pollution control