Volatile solids reduction in two-phase and conventional anaerobic sludge digestion

Success of two-phase anaerobic systems for primary and secondary sludge treatment has been reported based on both directly and indirectly measured volatile solids (VS) reduction, total gas and methane generation, COD reduction, etc. The objective of this research was to determine whether phase separation increases directly measured VS reduction compared to conventional anaerobic sludge digestion. Two-phase and conventional digesters were operated with sludge feeds from three sources; both 1:1 sludges (primary:waste activated, solids basis) and 100% waste activated sludges (WAS) were studied. The maximum difference between VS reductions in conventional and two-phase systems was about 8.7% with waste activated sludge. The increase in volatile solids reduction in two-phase systems with the 1:1 sludge ranged from 1.9 to 6.0% as compared to conventional systems. This relatively small increase in VS reduction may not be worth the additional cost of operating two-phase digesters at full scale.     

Sludge accumulation pattern in an anaerobic pond under Mediterranean climatic conditions

The main objective of this study was to observe the sludge accumulation pattern of an experimental, covered, anaerobic pond treating municipal wastewater under Mediterranean climatic conditions throughout a 2-year operational period (1999-2000) in order to form a seasonal sludge accumulation model which may be used to predict the required desludging time, not only of the particular anaerobic pond used in the study, but also for other types of anaerobic ponds and operational situations. The 4-m deep pond was supplied with pre-screened, untreated wastewater from the nearby treatment plant of Thessaloniki, Greece, initially at a flow rate of 120m3/day and later at a flow rate of 150m3/day. The influent characteristics were BOD5 441 mg O2/L, COD 942 mg O2/L and suspended solids (SS) 574 mg/L. BOD5, COD, and SS concentrations of the pond effluent were reduced by 50%, 53%, and 64%, respectively, in comparison with those of the influent. During the operational period, three distinctly different zones were seen to form within the anaerobic pond: The first zone, which formed at the bottom of the pond, consisted of inert, high-density sludge. The second zone, which formed above this, contained a high concentration of volatile (easily biodegradable) sludge. The third upper zone (supernatant), was a liquid layer low in suspended solids. The accumulation of sludge in the pond followed an annual sinusoidal pattern with high values during winter and low ones during summer due to the increased digestion rate. The maximum high-density sludge height observed was 0.7m, or 2% (14 m3) of the total pond volume. The maximum volatile sludge accumulation reached 3.1 m, or 53% (300 m3) of the pond volume. A seasonal sludge accumulation model, based on the sludge inflow and seasonal digestion rates, was used to simulate the annual fluctuation in accumulation rate for the local (Mediterranean type) climatic conditions. Monthly values of accumulation (or digestion) rate of sludge (K(AS)) were experimentally estimated at specific mean monthly air temperatures and approximated by a regression second degree polynomial equation to be used with the model. The predicted desludging interval for our experimental pond was 3 years.     

Mesophilic and thermophilic temperature co-phase anaerobic digestion compared with single-stage mesophilic- and thermophilic digestion of sewage sludge

The performance of thermophilic and mesophilic temperature co-phase anaerobic digestions for sewage sludge, using the exchange process of the digesting sludge between spatially separated mesophilic and thermophilic digesters, was examined, and compared to single-stage mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestions. The reduction of volatile solids from the temperature co-phase anaerobic digestion system was dependent on the sludge exchange rate, but was 50.7-58.8%, which was much higher than 46.8% of single-stage thermophilic digestion, as well as 43.5% of the mesophilic digestion. The specific methane yield was 424-468 mL CH(4) per gram volatile solids removed, which was as good as that of single-stage mesophilic anaerobic digestion. The process stability and the effluent quality in terms of volatile fatty acids and soluble chemical oxygen demand of the temperature co-phase anaerobic digestion system were considerably better than those of the single-stage mesophilic anaerobic processes. The destruction of total coliform in the temperature co-phase system was 98.5-99.6%, which was similar to the single-stage thermophilic digestion. The higher performances on the volatile solid and pathogen reduction, and stable operation of the temperature co-phase anaerobic system might be attributable to the well-functioned thermophilic digester, sharing nutrients and intermediates for anaerobic microorganisms, and selection of higher substrate affinity anaerobic microorganisms in the co-phase system, as a result of the sludge exchange between the mesophilic and thermophilic digesters.     

Aerobic digestion of thickened activated sludge: Reaction rate constant determination and process performance

The aims of this work were to select which parameter—total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS) or degradable volatile suspended solids (DVSS)—best expressed the kinetics of aerobic digestion of waste secondary activated sludge: to define the relationship between the reaction rate constant and the initial concentration of sludges; to evaluate the effect of aerobic digestion on the filterability of the treated sludge as measured by the capillary suction time (C.S.T.).Batch experiments of aerobic digestion were performed in our laboratory on samples of sludges at a constant temperature of 20 C. The initial concentration of sludges ranged from 2600 to 22,000 mg l⁻¹.TSS was found to be the parameter which most closely fits the kinetic model of aerobic digestion. The reaction rate constant was a linear, inverse function of the initial sludge concentration with TSS and with VSS as a parameter.Sludge filterability is affected by the process of aerobic digestion; a prolonged aeration time results in poorer dewatering; and the more concentrated the sample, the poorer the dewatering.     

CONTROLLING AND MONITORING ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS FED WITH THERMALLY HYDROLYSED SLUDGE

A sludge treatment centre has been constructed at Nigg sewage-treatment works, Aberdeen to receive sewage sludge from a number of plants in the area. The sludge is treated to the USEPA Class A standard in a thermal-hydrolysis plant in which it is heated to 165°C for 30 mins in batch reactors. The hydrolysed sludge, which contains 10–12% dry solids, is then pumped to an anaerobic digestion plant where the temperature is maintained at 39°C for a minimum of 15 days.
The commissioning and testing of the anaerobic digesters was different to those which are fed with untreated sludge, and the approach is outlined. The paper discusses (a) the digestion parameters which were monitored during start-up, (b) the performance of the digesters throughout the commissioning and testing period, and (c) the quality of the dewatered sludge.     

Optimization of the hydrolytic-acidogenic anaerobic digestion stage (55 degrees C) of sewage sludge: influence of pH and solid content

In conventional single-stage anaerobic digestion processes, hydrolysis is regarded as the rate-limiting step in the degradation of complex organic compounds, such as sewage sludge. Two-stage systems have been proposed to enhance this process. However, so far it is not clear which are the best conditions for a two-stage anaerobic digestion process of sewage sludge, in terms of temperature and hydraulic retention time of each stage. The aim of this work was to determine the optimal conditions for the hydrolytic-acidogenic stage treating real sludge with a high concentration of total solids (40-50gL(-1)) and volatile solids (25-30gL(-1)), named high concentration sludge. The variables considered for this first stage were: hydraulic retention time (1-4 days) and temperature (55 and 65 degrees C). Maximum volatile fatty acids generation was obtained at 4 days and 3 days hydraulic retention time for 55 degrees C and 65 degrees C, respectively. Consequently, 4 days hydraulic retention time and temperature of 55 degrees C were set as the working conditions for the hydrolytic-acidogenic stage treating high concentration sludge. The results obtained when operating with high concentration sludge were compared with a low concentration sludge consisting of 17-28gL(-1) total solids and 13-21gL(-1) volatile solids. The effect of decreasing the influent sludge pH, when working at the optimal conditions established, was also evaluated.     

Combined anaerobic and aerobic digestion for increased solids reduction and nitrogen removal

A unique sludge digestion system consisting of anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic digestion and then a recycle step where thickened sludge from the aerobic digester was recirculated back to the anaerobic unit was studied to determine the impact on volatile solids (VS) reduction and nitrogen removal. It was found that the combined anaerobic/aerobic/anaerobic (ANA/AER/ANA) system provided 70% VS reduction compared to 50% for conventional mesophilic anaerobic digestion with a 20 day SRT and 62% for combined anaerobic/aerobic (ANA/AER) digestion with a 15 day anaerobic and a 5 day aerobic SRT. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal for the ANA/AER/ANA system was 70% for sludge wasted from the aerobic unit and 43.7% when wasted from the anaerobic unit. TKN removal was 64.5% for the ANA/AER system.     

The Application of Cross-flow Microfiltration Technology to the Concentration of Sewage Works Sludge Streams

A LOCALLY DEVELOPED cross-flow microfiltration process using woven fabric tubes was used to concentrate waste activated sludge and anaerobic digested sludge from a conventional sewage works.
Results showed that waste activated sludge could be concentrated from 5 to 50 g/l total solids. The permeate quality was good (0 to 50 mg/l suspended solids), but deteriorated both with time and increasing feed solids concentration.
A cross-flow microfilter was coupled to a pilot scale anaerobic digester and the digester solids were increased from 26 to 55 g/l total solids. The organic loading to the digester was increased from 1.8 to 3.1 kg volatile solids per m³ per day. The solids retention time was held constant at 26 days, while the liquid retention time was decreased from 26 to 14 days. The permeate quality was significantly better than the supernatant liquor from a comparable digester (suspended solids 122 and 570 mg/l, respectively).
Data obtained from the cross-flow microfiltration of waste activated sludge was used to regress for the constants in a mathematical model of steady-state flux.     

Mechanisms of floc destruction during anaerobic and aerobic digestion and the effect on conditioning and dewatering of biosolids

Laboratory anaerobic and aerobic digestion studies were conducted using waste activated sludges from two municipal wastewater treatment plants in order to gain insight into the mechanisms of floc destruction that account for changes in sludge conditioning and dewatering properties when sludges undergo anaerobic and aerobic digestion. Batch digestion studies were conducted at 20 degrees C and the dewatering properties, solution biopolymer concentration and conditioning dose requirements measured. The data indicated that release of biopolymer from sludges occurred under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions but that the release was much greater under anaerobic conditions. In particular, the release of protein into solution was 4-5 times higher under anaerobic than under aerobic conditions. Both the dewatering rate, as characterized by the specific resistance to filtration and the amount of polymer conditioning chemicals required was found to depend directly on the amount of biopolymer (protein + polysaccharide) in solution. Little difference in dewatering properties and conditioning doses was seen between the two activated sludges from different plants. Differences in the cations released between anaerobic and aerobic digestion suggest that the digestion mechanisms differ for the two types of processes. Enzyme activity data showed that during aerobic digestion, polysaccharide degradation activity decreased to near zero and this was consistent with the accumulation of polysaccharides in aerobic digesters.     

Ultrasonic waste activated sludge disintegration for improving anaerobic stabilization

The pretreatment of waste activated sludge by ultrasonic disintegration was studied in order to improve the anaerobic sludge stabilization. The ultrasound frequency was varied within a range from 41 to 3217 kHz. The impact of different ultrasound intensities and treatment times was examined. Sludge disintegration was most significant at low frequencies. Low-frequency ultrasound creates large cavitation bubbles which upon collapse initiate powerful jet streams exerting strong shear forces in the liquid. The decreasing sludge disintegration efficiency observed at higher frequencies was attributed to smaller cavitation bubbles which do not allow the initiation of such strong shear forces. Short sonication times resulted in sludge floc deagglomeration without the destruction of bacteria cells. Longer sonication brought about the break-up of cell walls, the sludge solids were distintegrated and dissolved organic compounds were released. The anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge following ultrasonic pretreatment causing microbial cell lysis was significantly improved. There was an increase in the volatile solids degradation as well as an increase in the biogas production. The increase in digestion efficiency was proportional to the degree of sludge disintegration. To a lesser degree the deagglomeration of sludge flocs also augmented the anaerobic volatile solids degradation.     

白龙港污水处理厂污泥厌氧消化系统的设计和调试

白龙港污泥处理工程主要处理白龙港污水处理厂200×104 m3/d污水处理产生的污泥,采用浓缩、中温厌氧消化、污泥脱水和部分脱水污泥干化处理工艺,消化产生的沼气用于加热消化池污泥,多余的沼气作为能源干化脱水污泥。干化处理后冷凝水的余热回收辅助用于污泥消化系统供热。介绍了污泥厌氧消化系统的设计参数、工艺特点及调试情况,可供设计人员参考。     

臭氧氧化/厌氧消化工艺处理CEPT污泥的研究

上海市白龙港污水处理厂采用化学一级强化处理工艺（CEPT），污泥产量大且稳定性差，直接脱水填埋很难满足有关环保要求，因此对其进行稳定化和减量化研究是污泥处理、处置工作的重中之重。为此，开展了臭氧氧化／厌氧消化工艺处理该类污泥的中试研究。结果表明，当臭氧投量为0．08kg／kgDS、臭氧氧化污泥量占进泥量的比例为67％、污泥投配率为5％时，臭氧氧化对厌氧消化的促进作用比较明显，对有机物的降解率较单纯厌氧消化的高约6．3％，产气量增加了近20．1％。此外，投加臭氧还能改善污泥的脱水性能，并减少了脱水时助凝剂的投量。     

Sequential polymer dosing for effective dewatering of ATAD sludges

Dewatering problems associated with the sludge from autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) of sludge, result in large chemical conditioning costs for effective dewatering. A variety of chemical conditioners were used to improve dewatering, but none of them were able to dewater the sludge as desired at acceptable conditioning doses. It was found that during the digestion process, chemical precipitation of divalent cations occurred. Some of the ATAD sludge colloids were found to have a positive zeta potential and these were thought to be the precipitated divalent cations. Sequential polymer dosing using either iron or cationic polymer, followed by anionic polymer, was found to improve dewatering. The use of anionic polymer is essential and allows the use of smaller amounts of iron or cationic polymer for effective dewatering. The use of the less expensive anionic polymer along with cationic polymers has the potential to make the use of the ATAD process more economical.     

SLUDGE TREATMENT AND DRYING REED BED SYSTEMS IN DENMARK

Sludge Reed beds have been used for dewatering (draining and evapotranspiration) and mineralisation of sludge in Denmark since 1988 when the first sludge processing system was introduced. Sludge from wastewater treatment plants (2,500-125,000 pe) is treated in sludge reed bed systems with 1–18 basins with loading rates of 25–2,200 tonnes dry solids/year for ten years. In 2002, approximately 95 systems were in operation. Dimensioning and design of reed bed systems depends on the sludge production rate, sludge type, quality and regional climate.
The maximum sludge loading rate is approximately 50–60 kg DS/m²/year. Loading cycles are related to the sludge type and the age of the sludge reed systems. The sludge residue will, after approximately ten years of operation, reach an approximate height of 1.2–1.5 metres with dry solids content of 30–40%. Experience has shown that the quality of the final product with respect to heavy metals, hazardous organic compounds and pathogen removal after ten years of treatment make it possible to recycle the biosolids to agriculture as an enhanced treated product.     

太原循环经济环卫产业园固体废物污水处理厂工艺设计

为解决太原循环经济环卫产业园内生活垃圾焚烧处理处置、餐厨垃圾处理处置及其他固废处理处置过程中产生的高浓度废水处理问题,拟新建一座污水处理厂。设计处理规模为1 200 t/d,主要包括750 t/d的焚烧厂垃圾渗滤液和450 t/d的餐厨沼液。渗滤液处理采用"气浮+调节池+内循环厌氧反应器+两级A/O-MBR"的核心工艺,餐厨沼液处理采用"气浮+调节池+两级A/O-MBR"的核心工艺。污泥处理采用"离心脱水+热干化"工艺,处理后污泥含水率≤30%,干化污泥采用密封车辆送至焚烧厂焚烧处理。试运行结果表明,出水水质稳定达到设计标准。污水处理厂总投资为1.3亿元,污水处理直接成本为23.5元/t。     

Enhancement of waste activated sludge aerobic digestion by electrochemical pre-treatment

Electrochemical technology with a pair of RuO₂/Ti mesh plate electrode is first applied to pre-treat Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) prior to aerobic digestion in this study. The effects of various operating conditions were investigated including electrolysis time, electric power, current density, initial pH of sludge and sludge concentration. The study showed that the sludge reduction increased with the electrolysis time, electric power or current density, while decreased with the sludge concentration. Additionally, higher or lower pH than 7.0 was propitious to remove organic matters. The electrochemical pre-treatment removed volatile solids (VS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) by 2.75% and 7.87%, respectively, with a WAS concentration of 12.9 g/L, electrolysis time of 30 min, electric power of 5 W and initial sludge pH of 10. In the subsequent aerobic digestion, the sludge reductions for VS and VSS after solids retention time (SRT) of 17.5 days were 34.25% and 39.59%, respectively. However, a SRT of 23.5 days was necessary to achieve equivalent reductions without electrochemical pre-treatment. Sludge analysis by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images and infrared (IR) spectra indicated that electrochemical pre-treatment can rupture sludge cells, remove and solubilize intracellular substances, especially protein and polysaccharide, and consequently enhance the aerobic digestion.     

Insights into the enhancement of the ASB benthal solids digestion rate

Aerated stabilization basins (ASB) accumulate benthal solids as they provide biotreatment to wastewaters. The accumulated solids must digest at a rate that matches the rate of settling of fresh solids in order to maintain the water column depth at the design value. In practice, however, the deposited solids digest at rates much slower than the fresh deposition rates, resulting in solids accumulation in the system. Excessive build-up of solids warrants dredging or abandoning the solids-filled cells in favour of opening new ones, often due to prohibitive dredging costs. An investigating study on factors affecting digestion rate was carried out using benthal solids from a pulp and paper ASB. The rate of digestion was not limited by the lack of macronutrients N, P, and S in the system or by toxicity due to ammonia or sulphide. Oxidation-reduction potential and pH were found conducive to anaerobic digestion throughout the 1120-day study. However, the generation of volatile organic acids from liquefaction/fermentation of solid substrate appeared to be a major factor limiting the digestion rate. Based on laboratory data, operating an ASB in the optimal mesophilic temperature range could be a practical way of enhancing the benthal solids digestion rate.     

Investigation of the sludge reduction mechanism in the anaerobic side-stream reactor process using several control biological wastewater treatment processes

To investigate the mechanism of sludge reduction in the anaerobic side-stream reactor (SSR) process, activated sludge with five different sludge reduction schemes were studied side-by-side in the laboratory. These are activated sludge with: 1) aerobic SSR, 2) anaerobic SSR, 3) aerobic digester, 4) anaerobic digester, and 5) no sludge wastage. The system with anaerobic SSR (system #2) was the focus of this study and four other systems served as control processes with different functions and purposes. Both mathematical and experimental approaches were made to determine solids retention time (SRT) and sludge yield for the anaerobic SSR process. The results showed that the anaerobic SSR process produced the lowest solids generation, indicating that sludge organic fractions degraded in this system are larger than other systems that possess only aerobic or anaerobic mode. Among three systems that involved long SRT (system #1, #2, and #5), it was only system #2 that showed stable sludge settling and effluent quality, indicating that efficient sludge reduction in this process occurred along with continuous generation of normal sludge flocs. This observation was further supported by batch anaerobic and aerobic digestion data. Batch digestion on sludges collected after 109 days of operation clearly demonstrated that both anaerobically and aerobically digestible materials were removed in activated sludge with anaerobic SSR. In contrast, sludge reduction in the aerobic SSR process or no wastage system was achieved by removal of mainly aerobically digestible materials. All these results led us to conclude that repeating sludge under both feast/fasting and anaerobic/aerobic conditions (i.e., activated sludge with anaerobic SSR) is necessary to achieve the highest biological solids reduction with normal wastewater treatment performance.     

Bacterial growth kinetics in the completely mixed activated sludge treatment of fellmongery effluent

Fellmongery effluent was successfully treated (± 85% OA reduction) in a laboratory scale completely mixed activated sludge (CMAS) reactor with sludge recycle and controlled wasting. Varying the sludge age was found to have a significant effect on effluent quality. A mathematical model useful in the design and operation of effluent treatment plants was used to describe microbial growth in the treatment process. In the development of the model it is shown how a clear distinction must be made between the volatile suspended solids and the active volatile suspended solids for the model to accurately describe microbial growth kinetics.     

Sludge dewatering in a conventional plant with phosphorus removal-I: Analysis of additional costs

The aim of this research is to assess the differences in quantity and quality of sludges produced in a conventional activated sludge plant, modified for phosphorus chemical removal. Tests were carried out at the Cesenatico sewage treatment plant, where in summer phosphorus is removed simultaneously to the biological process with the aid of aluminium or ferrous sulphate. Characteristics of the sludge produced with or without phosphorus removal were compared. The sludge was then dewatered by a centrifuge and a filter-press on pilot scale and many tests were carried out under different operating conditions.In this part, the plant's most important performances are discussed with regard to phosphorus removal efficiency, sludge production, characteristics and dewaterability. The experiments showed that phosphorus could be removed up to residual concentration of 1.6 mg 1^?1 without detrimental effects on the biological process, with an increase of sludge production of 21 and 36% using aluminium or ferrous sulphate respectively. On the basis of experimental results a costs analysis was carried out to assess the costs for phosphorus removal, including the additional ones for sludge conditioning, dewatering and cake transport to landfill. It results that additional costs vary from 3290 to 6380 Lit per capita per year (29–54%). The higher costs refer to smaller plants (50,000 inhabitants), in which aluminium sulphate is used and sludge dewatered by centrifuge. The use of ferrous rather than aluminium sulphate allows savings of 1300–1600 Lit per capita per year.