1 TREATMENT PROCESS

1.1 THICKENING

Thickening is often the first step in a sludge treatment process. Sludge from primary
or secondary clarifiers may be stirred (often after addition of clarifying agents) to form larger,
more rapidly settling aggregates. Primary sludge may be thickened to about 8 or 10 percent
solids, while secondary sludge may be thickened to about 4 percent solids.

Thickeners often resemble a clarifier with the addition of a stirring mechanism.

Thickened sludge with less than ten percent solids may receive additional sludge treatment
while liquid thickener overflow is returned to the sewage treatment process.
1.2 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Anaerobic digestion is a bacterial process that is carried out in the absence of oxygen.
The process can either be thermophilic digestion, in which sludge is fermented in tanks at a
temperature of 55 °C, or mesophilic, at a temperature of around 36 °C. Though allowing
shorter retention time (and thus smaller tanks), thermophilic digestion is more expensive in
terms of energy consumption for heating the sludge.

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) is also a common method for treating sludge
produced at sewage treatment plants. The sludge is fed into large tanks and held for a
minimum of 12 days to allow the digestion process to perform the four stages necessary to
digest the sludge. These are hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. In
this process the complex proteins and sugars are broken down to form more simple
compounds such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Anaerobic digestion generates biogas with a high proportion of methane that may be
used to both heat the tank and run engines or microturbines for other on-site processes.
Methane generation is a key advantage of the anaerobic process. Its key disadvantage is the
long time required for the process (up to 30 days) and the high capital cost. Many larger sites
utilize the biogas for combined heat and power, using the cooling water from the generators
to maintain the temperature of the digestion plant at the required 35 ± 3 °C. Sufficient energy
can be generated in this way to produce more electricity than the machines require.

1.3 DEWATERING
Water content of sludge may be reduced by centrifugation, filtration, and/or evaporation
to reduce transportation costs of disposal, or to improve suitability for composting.
Centrifugation may be a preliminary step to reduce sludge volume for subsequent filtration or
evaporation.

Filtration may occur through underdrains in a sand drying bed or as a separate mechanical
process in a belt filter press. Filtrate and centrate are typically returned to the sewage
treatment process. After dewatering sludge may be handled as a solid containing 50 to 75
percent water. Dewatered sludges with higher moisture content are usually handled as liquids.
2 BIOEFFLUENT

2.1 REASONS FOR WASTEWATER REUSE

The most common reasons for establising a wastewater reuse is to identify new water
sources for increased water demand and find economical waste to meet increasingly more
stringent discharge standard.

2.2 TYPE OF BIOEFFLUENT REUSE

Wastewater reuse can be grouped into following categories:

 Urban Reuse
Irrigation of public parks, school yards, highways medians and residential landscapes
as well as for fire protection and toilet flushing in commercial and industrial building.

 Agricultural Reuse
Irrigation of non-food crops, such as fodder and fiber, commercial nurseries and
pasture lands. High quality reclaimed water is used to irrigate food crops.

 Environmental Reuse
Creating artificial wet lands, enchansing natural wet lands and susutaining stream
flows.

 Industrial Reuse
Proccess or makeup water and cooling tower water.
2.3 THE BENEFITS OF BIOEFFLUENT REUSE

 Reduce Pressure On natural Water Resources

Bioeflluent is a potential alternative for landscaping or industry applications. This will
reduce the overall pressure on natural water resources.

 Augment water Supply

Increasingly reuse to support industrial growth. Currently the IWK’s treatment plants
produce appproximately 4000 MDLnationwide equivalent to more than 25% of raw
water resources of the nation.

 Efficient Water Management

Ultimately reuse of treated effluent will contribute towards efficient water resources
management

 Apply Advanced Purification Technology

Lead to improvements in water industry.

 Efficient Pollution Control

Higher quality of treated and reclaim effluent is produced and reuse beneficially
without polluting our rivers.

 Sustainable Water Resources

Reuse of bioeffluent for non-potable applications will contribute towards a sustainable
future.
3 BIOGASS

3.1 REASONS FOR BIOGAS REUSE

Avoidance of CO₂ and fugitive methane release from sludge by proper collection, anaerobic
digestion and conversion of methane to electricity

BIOGAS FROM SEWAGE

The biogas has ecomomic potential to be utilize as a fuel sources for power
generation. Bunus and Pantai STP are the tool largest mechanized sewage treatment plants
complete with sludge treatment facilities in the Klang Valley.

Each has the capability to produce more than 9,000 m3/day of Biogas from its
anaerobic sludge digestion system.

IWK’s Biogas Characteristic.

Parameter Unit Value (%)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) % v/v 28
Oxygen (O2) % v/v <1
Methane (CH4) % v/v 65
Moisture Content % v/v 4
Nitrogen (N2) % v/v 3

3.2 NATIONAL IMPACTS ON BIOGAS RENEWABLE ENERGY

 Using the Biogas as a fuel source for power generation will provide the opportunity
to reduce the electricity grid supply.
 The project will contribute to further improve environmental quality by reduction of
green house emision.
 Researcher to produce local expertise biogas utilization can be realized.
 Stimulation of economic growth of renewable energy industry in Malaysia.
 Malaysia will find a significant position in the global map as the green technology
user, hence an opportinity to further expand and increase efficiency of biogas
technology for the future.
3.3 BENEFITS OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN SEWERAGE INDUSTRY

 Environmental friendly outlet for biosolids

 Alternative source of electricity.
 Minimize green house gas emision.
 Stakeholder satisfaction
 Better environmental quality.
 Sustainable development with balanced environmental, financial and social concern.

PANTAI SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

BUNUS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

4 BIOSOLIDS

4.1 BACKGROUND
Biosolids are the major by-product of the wastewater treatment process. When treated
and managed appropriately, they can be beneficially used for a number of purposes. Biosolids
are treated sewage sludges. Biosolids can only be considered as such once they fulfil the
requirements of a set of approved biosolids management guidelines.

Sewage sludge is the solids that are collected from the wastewater treatment process
but which have not undergone further treatment. Sludge normally contains up to around 3%
solids. Sewage sludge is regarded as having become biosolids once it has undergone further
treatment to reduce disease causing pathogens and volatile organic matter significantly,
producing a stabilised product suitable for beneficial use.

Biosolids, normally contain between 15% to 90% solids. Biosolids are carefully
treated and monitored and they must be used in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Biosolids are produced as a dried end product in sewerage treatment. It is valualable
resources containing high proportions of organic matter and nutrients esssential for plant
growth that include both macro and micro nutrients. Several studies had been carried out to
characterised biosolids and measure it effiencies as a plant butrient product for non-food
crops. One of the major succes is the study biosolid application for rubber plants.
4.2 BIOSOLIDS BENEFITS FOR RUBBER PLANTATION
 Biosolids application enhance soil fertility, productivity and microbial biomass and
microbial activity in soil.
 Biosolids also provid nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium,
magnesium, sulphur and micronutrients for plant growth.
 Biosolids increase water holding capacity.
 Biosolids improve soil aerationdue to the addition of organic matter.
 Biosolids reduce the amount of chemical fertiliser used such as phosphorus and
nitrogen.
 Biosolids reduce the rate of fertilization.
 Biosolids lesson the needed phosphate supplement whether the available phosphorus
is high (nearly 150 times more than in soil)

4.3 BIOSOLIDS PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

1. ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
A collection of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable
material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic
purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels. Much of the fermentation used
industrially to produce food and drink products, as well as home fermentation, uses
anaerobic digestion.
2. DEWATERING
Dewatering are terms used to describe the action of removing groundwater or surface
water from a construction site. Normally the dewatering process is done by pumping
or evaporation and is usually done before excavation for footings or to lower water
table that might be causing problems during excavations. Dewatering can also refer to
the process of removing water from the soil by wet classification.

3. DRIED BIOSOLIDS
Biosolids are the byproduct of treated wastewater and sludge. The solids produced
from wastewater treatment are heated in order to break down the organic matter, and
to eliminate bacteria and other harmful organisms. This material becomes known as
biosolids, and generally looks and feels very similar to regular soil. In Toronto alone,
our city's wastewater system generates about 195 000 tons of biosolids per year.
4.4 BIOSOLIDS APPLICATIONS FOR PLANT GROWTH

1. PLANTING MEDIA PREPARATION

2. PREPARATION COMPLETE

3. SIX MONTH AFTER PLANTING