PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF DEWATERING ENHANCED BY ELECTRO-OSMOSIS

Dewatering mechanism due to electro-osmosis is fairly different from that of mechanical dewataine which has been used conventionally. and electro-osmotic dewatering has Several advantages compared with the mechanical dewatering and it can be remarkably effective for hardly dewaterable sludges such as very fine Particles and gelatinous materials. In electro-osmotically enhanced dewatering, however, it would be a great problem that the achievement of complete water removal within the sludge could not be possible in principle. Because. when a liauid state in the sludge becomes to be not continuous gradually with proceeding of dewatering, the sludge does not lead electricity and and then electro-osmosis is no longer caused.

Applying electro-osmosis to sludge dewatering practically, methods for improvement of the electro-osmotic dewatering must be investigated taking account ofapos;such a situation for the performance of high dewatering efficiency. Some practical applications of the dewatering which can be considered to be available are described in this paper.     

Modelling the electro-osmotically enhanced pressure dewatering of activated sludge

The mechanical dewatering of biological materials, such as activated sludge, is troublesome due to their high compressibility. The dewatering can be improved drastically by the use of electro-osmosis, a technique in which a direct current electric field is applied to the filter cake, inducing an electro-kinetic displacement of the liquid phase. In this article, a model is presented which describes this process for a one-dimensional, one-sided filter press. The model starts from two existing models, each describing a part of the process [Iwata, M., Igami, H., Murase, T., 1991. Analysis of electroosmotic dewatering. Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan 24(1), 45-50; Sørensen, P.B., Moldrup, P., Hansem, J.A., 1996. Filtration and expression of compressible cakes. Chemical Engineering Science 51(6), 967-979]. A robust solution scheme for the basic flux and continuity equations is used to describe filtration and expression. Regarding the electro-osmosis, an adapted form of the Darcy equation, expressing electro-osmotic induced flow as well as pressure induced flow, is integrated into the former solution scheme. This permits the simulation of the overall process using a single model. Validation of the model revealed that the experimental piston height during dewatering can be described accurately provided that temperature effects are taken into account.     

ELECTRO-OSMOTIC DEWATERING OF FINE SUSPENSIONS: THE EFFICACY OF CURRENT INTERRUPTIONS

An important factor in the dewatering of fine suspensions by electro-osmosis is efficient mechanical collection and removal of water that is electrically generated. The mechanical collection can be the rate-determining step,controlling the overall dewatering. When the water is not efficiently removed, on-off power regimes appear to give as good results as continuous power application. This is not the case when water removal is highly efficient. A true test of the effect of different power regimes is possible with a thin bed of the suspension in a vacuum-assisted electrofilter, which provides a strong driving force to collect the water. Under these conditions, the rate of dewatering for full-wave or continuous power is always about double that for half-wave or on-off power regimes. These results suggest that recurring claims in the literature of the advantages of current interruptions or reversals in electro-osmotic dewatering may be erroneous or only partially correct.     

Influence of Electric Field Application with Decreasing One Sided Area of Electrodes on Electro-Osmotic Dewatering

Electro-osmotic dewatering is typically operated under an electric field of direct current condition. In the process of electro-osmotic dewatering, water content in part of the material near the electrode opposite to the drainage surface is locally reduced, resulting in an increase of electrical contact resistance between the electrode and the material being dewatered. Then the efficiency of the electro-osmotic dewatering process is reduced remarkably.

In order to improve the performance of electro-osmotic dewatering, it is supposed that a porous plate-type electrode used generally opposite to the drainage surface may be replaced to several rod-type electrodes, which are inserted into the material with dewatering. Using rod-type electrodes, the area of those electrodes becomes smaller than the plate-type electrode.

From this point of view, electro-osmotic dewatering was experimentally investigated by decreasing one-sided area of electrodes, namely the area of the plate-type electrode opposite to the drainage surface, and the influence of such an electric field application on improvement of the dewatering process is discussed in this article.     

电渗透-过硫酸铵协同污泥脱水过程中胞外聚合物的变化

为了研究电渗透-过硫酸盐协同污泥深度脱水的机制,利用自制装置对市政污水处理厂的污泥进行了脱水研究,系统研究了在过硫酸铵投加量、电压梯度、污泥厚度和机械压力的操作条件下,污泥中胞外聚合物的组分（蛋白质和多糖）变化情况及对污泥脱水效果的影响。结果表明,在过硫酸铵投加量为30mg/gDS、电压为25V/cm、污泥厚度为2.0cm、机械压力为23.1kPa条件下,污泥含水率可以降低至57.4%。不同脱水条件均会造成胞外聚合物组分变化,其中过硫酸铵加量和电压是影响胞外聚合物组分以及污泥脱水效果的主要因素。     

Involvement of Gypsum (CaSO4 · 2H2O) in Water Treatment Sludge Dewatering: A Potential Benefit in Disposal and Reuse

Abstract

This research assessed the use of gypsum (CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) as a skeleton builder for sludge dewatering since polymer conditioning of sludge affected only the rate of water release, not the extent of dewatering. The use of gypsum as a physical conditioner, in association with a polymer, could improve sludge filterability. More significantly, gypsum serves as a skeleton builder, forming a permeable and rigid lattice structure that can remain porous under high positive pressure during the compression step after the cake growth of the filtration, thereby maintaining the size of the micro‐passages through which water is expressed. Experiments using a high pressure cell apparatus showed that a further decrease of two to seven percent of the equilibrium moisture content of the sludge cake was achieved, for sludge thicknesses for dewatering of 1 to 10 cm, by the addition of gypsum with 60% of the original sludge solids when compared to the single polymer conditioning. The importance of the addition of gypsum in alum sludge dewatering is not only the improvement in the extent of dewatering, but also the potential application of transforming dewatered alum sludge from “waste” for landfill to useful “fertilizer” or to be used as a filter medium/adsorbent for wastewater treatment engineering.     

电渗透/Fe-过硫酸盐氧化协同强化污泥深度脱水

利用电渗透和高级氧化技术,采用自制实验装置对城市污水处理厂的脱水污泥进行了脱水研究,系统研究了过硫酸盐投加量、铁盐与过硫酸盐比例、电压梯度、脱水时间和污泥厚度对污泥脱水的影响。结果表明,电渗透-高级氧化复合技术可以改善污泥的脱水性能,在污泥样品为140 g、过硫酸盐投加量为100（mg·g DS）^-1、Fe²⁺与过硫酸盐比例为1：1、机械压力为17.59 kPa、控制初始电压为11 V·cm^-1时,污泥的含水率可以降低至60%以下,与单独使用电渗透技术相比,泥饼具有更好的均匀性,便于后续的运输和安置。     

Comparison of Electro-Osmosis Experiments on Marine Sludge with Different Electrode Materials

One-dimensional laboratory electro-osmosis experiments of marine sludge in Dalian (China) were conducted on a self-made apparatus to research consolidation effects of copper, aluminum, and ferrum electrodes. Although there was potential loss in the contacts of the anode and marine sludge, the electro-osmosis method was still found to be an effective way to reduce the moisture content and increase the shear strength of marine sludge. In particular, ferrum electrodes performed the best for Dalian coastal marine sludge. The bad performance of copper anode can be justified by the generation of non-conductive paratacamite, atacamite, and nantokite on its surface. Overall, these new discoveries can benefit the choice of electrodes in the marine sludge electro-osmosis dewatering application.     

Effect of Electro-Osmotic Dewatering on the Quality of Tofu Sheet

As a new dewatering technology with high efficiency and energy saving, electro-osmotic dewatering can be applied to food processing. The objective of this work was to study the effect of combined field dewatering (CFD) involving electro-osmosis and mechanical pressure on the quality of tofu sheet. Combined field dewatering was performed on the dewatering process of tofu sheet for 10 to 30 min at a voltage ranging from 30 to 50 V under various pulse-time ratio (t₊ = 120 s, t_- = 5 s) electric field and 0.047 MPa pressure field. The texture and structure of tofu sheet after treatments were examined by a rheometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The result showed that the three quality indexes, i.e., hardness, tensile strength, and ductility of tofu sheet near the anode were 45%, 30%, and 12% higher respectively than those dewatered by common mechanical pressure method. However, those near the cathode were 15%, 25%, and 10% lower respectively. When the electric field was applied for 10 min at 30 V, these indexes reached their maximum values. Meanwhile, the tofu sheet structure near the anode was more compact and homogeneous than that near the cathode. The result indicated that CFD could enhance the quality of tofu sheet.     

Sludge Dewatering and Aggregate Formation Effects through Taylor Vortex Assisted Flocculation

Abstract

For polymer induced flocculation processes, the effects of flow patterns in a gap of a conical stirrer on aggregate formation and subsequent sludge dewatering efficiency were analysed. Different flow regimes were identified by lab scale investigations with model substances and summarized in a Ta and Re number plane. An enhancement of sludge dewaterability for polymer induced flocculation processes was identified through post‐treatment of flocculated sludge aggregates by the specific flow pattern of stable and wavy Taylor vortices. Photo‐optical image analysis of flocculated aggregates shows a clear change of aggregate size distribution with less small particles during aggregate forming by Taylor vortices compared to classical flocculation procedure by stirrer. Results from technical scale dewatering analyses confirmed enhancement of sludge dewatering efficiency for six different dewatering machines using the identified wavy and stable Taylor vortex flow pattern regime.     

Structural Analysis and Dewatering Characteristics of Waste Sludge from WWTP MBR

Abstract

A pilot‐scale UF membrane bioreactor (MBR) of 1 m³/day capacity was set up in an industrial wastewater treatment plant to evaluate its performance. This study mainly focused on testing the dewaterability and structural analysis of MBR sludge. MBR had 14% reduction of excess sludge production in relative to the conventional activated sludge process (CAS sludge). For dewatering, MBR sludge had comparable dewaterability with the CAS sludge but required nearly 20% less flocculant to reach the highest filterability χ and lowest specific filtration resistance (SRF). This could reduce the cost for running the dewatering facilities and final disposal. Meanwhile the chemical and morphological analyses on MBR sludge exhibited lower EPS (exocellular polymeric substances) content, slightly smaller flocs and more compact morphology. Additionally, to estimate the appropriate polyelectrolyte dose prior to dewatering, we measured the hysteresis loop area of the sludge rheogram (shear stress vs. shear rate) using a co‐axial cylinder viscometer. For both sludges, the area dramatically increased at some critical flocculant dosage and then plateaued off. The critical dosage, though not optimal, still led to an acceptable dewatering performance for the sludge.     

THE ELECTRODEWATERING OF SEWAGE SLUDGES

ABSTRACT

Electrodewatering (EDW), the enhancement of conventional pressure filtration by an electric field, is an emerging technology with the potential to improve dewatering especially for difficult materials. CSIRO has many years of experience in EDW, ranging from bench scale tests to demonstration trials. A recent programme has investigated the applicability of EDW to aerobic wastewater treatment sludges which are particularly difficult to dewater using conventional equipment.

The bench scale filtration experiments produced cakes with solids contents of 35-46 wt% using EDW, compared with 24-30 wt% using pressure filtration alone. This paper : ? describes how the dewatering results were achieved;

?identifies a relationship between moisture removal limits by EDW and the forms of water within the sludge;

?shows the results of preliminary attempts to mathematically model the EDW process     

ANALYSIS OF THE DRYING OF RESIDUAL SLUDGE: FROM THE EXPERIMENT TO THE SIMULATION OF A BELT DRYER

ABSTRACT

The drying of residual sludge is a current environmental problem not sufficiently described in the literature, hence research investigations on this dewatering process are required. This paper proposes a modelling of a conveyor dryer belt. However the study of residual sludges dewatering in order to design or simulate drying equipment requires some experimental investigations. An analysis in terms of drying kinetics is proposed in this paper. Specific experiments were also needed in order to better describe some particular aspects such as crusting, shrinkage, and particle size impact. According to these data some analytical expressions have been derived and integrated in a belt dryer model. The set of air operating conditions (T, RH, v) was reduced to a single parameter, the drying potential. The results of the simulations show that a conveyor belt dryer is not well adapted to activated sludge. This is essentially due to a crust phenomenon. For a PVC industrial sludge this kind of dryer is more efficient and allows drying with reasonable residence times. Several simulations were run in order to point out the relevant parameters of the process.     

ULTRASOUND IN THE SUSPENSION SEPARATION METHODS

Investigations were carried out on the effect of the ultrasonic field and some selected chemical compounds on the process of preparing sludges to be dewatered by mechanical devices.

The tests; were performed in a laboratory on real sludges. The processes occurring in sludges due to presence of ultrasonic field and applied chemical reagents were determined on the basis of a commonly used method of determining the sludge dewatering, in both filtration and sedimentation.

The interdependences of value changes of the above mentioned factors and the possibilities of applying ultrasonic waves to intensifying sludge dewatering process were examined. The obtained results confirm the applicability of ultrasonic waves to the process of sludge treatment and prove that the initial assumptions concerning the use of ultrasonic field in the suspension separation methods to be valid.     

DEWATERING OF WASTE ACTIVATED SLUDGE VIA CENTRIFUGAL FIELD

ABSTRACT

While conducting centrifugal dewatering tests on waste activated sludge, this work considered how the rotational speed and the application of cationic polyelectrolyte flocculation affected the sludge. Increased rotational speed and/or conditioning the sludge to a charge neutralization point could enhance dewatering efficiency. A model was proposed to estimate the disruption energy exerted on the sludge body using centrifugation. Experimental results indicate that the disruption energy level provided by the centrifuge increases with rotational speed and decreasing water content in the filter cake. Moreover, polyelectrolyte flocculation may significantly reduce the disruption energy level of the water from sludge particles and the residual water contents at the end of the test.     

Electro-osmotic dewatering of soaked hemp stems

ABSTRACT

Hemp stems were immersed in water as a pretreatment to enhance the production of hemp fiber. To reduce the high moisture content, the soaked hemp stems were dewatered using a bench-type electro-osmotic roller press. Variables like applied voltage (12, 24, and 36?V), roller pressure (1000, 2000, and 3000?kPa), and duration of soaking of hemp stems (12, 24, and 36?h) were subjected to investigation and the percentage of total water expelled due to electro-osmotic dewatering (EOD) at various levels of experiments was recorded. Hemp stems soaked for 24?h treated at a roller pressure of 2,000?kPa at an applied voltage of 36?V showed the maximum water removal after EOD process. The water removal was found to be increasing with increase in applied voltage and roller pressure. Soaking time up to 32?h leads to an increase in water removal and then it started decreasing. The probable reason for that was the penetration of surface water into micropores and its adhesion to the lignocellulosic bonds. Electro-osmotic permeability of hemp stems at various levels of voltages, roller pressures, and soaking times was studied and the result proved that electro-osmotic permeability was inversely proportional to applied voltage and it was independent of the applied pressure.     

固体除湿剂电渗再生

Due to its energy saving, the solid desiccation system has more and more applications. However, the regeneration of the system is beset with high operating cost and complicated equipment. In this study a new electro-osmotic regeneration method was proposed, and the feasibility was explored experimentally. An electro-osmotic regeneration system with a sample box, controlling and measuring apparatus was set up, and its performance was evaluated. In the experiment, an obvious electro-osmotic regeneration effect was observed for the solid to desiccant in the humid air at normal temperature, and the maximum regeneration rate reached 0. 21 g·m^-2·s^-1. It was found that the whole electro-osmosis process was divided into three phases because of the Joule heating effect and electrode corrosion, which hindered the electro-osmotic regeneration. The experiment showed that the Joule heating effect could be reduced by controlling the supplied electric field at the initial stage.     

Dewatering of drinking water treatment sludge by vacuum electro-osmosis

The objective of this research was to evaluate the dewatering of drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) by vacuum electro-osmosis dewatering (VEOD) technology. DWTS has a high moisture content, with the water existing as free water, pore water, surface adhesion water and internal combined water. Vacuum filtration of 0.05 MPa can quickly dewater sludge and has low energy consumption, but can only remove free water and some pore water. The moisture content of the DWTS was reduced to below 79% by vacuum filtration technique alone. At this moisture content, all free water had been expelled by vacuum filtration. Electro-osmosis optimized for the experimental conditions (0.05 MPa, 2.5 V/cm) began after vacuum filtration ceased, and drew pore water and surface adhesion water to the cathode, where it was expelled through vacuum filtration. The VEOD process removed all free water. In addition, pore water and surface adhesion water were reduced by 60.2% and 15.9%, respectively.     

Electrochemical Aspects of Electroosmotic Dewatering of Clay Suspensions

ABSTRACT

An attempt is made to elucidate the electrochemical aspects of the electroosmotic dewatering (EOD) of clays as reported in some recent work, especially that on interrupted DC power electroosmotic dewatering published by Rabie, Mujumdar and Weber (2). These authors showed that the dewatering by EOD stops after the DC power has been on for several minutes or hours; on interruption of their power and on short-circuiting of the electrodes, conditions can be created again for some further dewatering by DC power EOD. This discovery, of Rabie et al. is interpreted as a fuel cell effect and it is shown that it affords clues to several other electrochemical strategies for the possible enhancement of the efficiency of the EOD by DC power.

Further, the open circuit potentials observed by Rabie et al. (2) on the interruption of DC power are given an electrochemical interpretation which leads to quantitative estimates in agreement with the experimental values.     

分级加载电压下考虑有效电势变化的软黏土电渗固结理论

分级加载电压技术能够有效延长电渗处理的时间,改善地基的处理效果并能有效降低能耗。在利用分级加载电压技术开展电渗试验时,随着土体的排水固结,土体各点的电势会发生明显的变化,这与现有的电渗固结理论假设土体各点电势保持不变有所差异。利用自主设计的电渗试验仪器开展了分级加载电压下的电渗室内试验,分析了电渗过程中土体有效电势变化的规律。基于该规律并结合Esrig固结理论建立了在阳极处不排水、阴极处排水条件下考虑土体有效电势变化的电渗固结理论,得到了分级加载电压条件下考虑土体有效电势变化的超静孔隙水压力和平均固结度的解析表达式。研究表明,在电压分级加载过程中,土体有效电势变化规律表现为随时间先基本保持不变,后呈抛物线状先增后减。通过试验案例验证了考虑土体有效电势变化所求得解析解的合理性,且该数值计算结果相较于Esrig数值计算结果,前者更加接近实测值,该固结方程的建立为后续分级加载电压技术的推广应用提供了理论依据,也为实际工程提供了参考。