Determine the sludge volume before and after digestion of the primary sludge with the

following characteristics and percentage reduction of the primary sludge after digestion if
the dry weight of the primary sludge is 500 kg.

Parameters Primary After Digestion

sludge
Solids (%) 5 10
Volatile matter 60% 60% (of the
matter get
destroyed)
Specific gravity of 2.5 2.5
fixed matter
Specific gravity of 1.1 1.1
volatile matter

Specific gravity of solids in primary sludge

1 0.4 0.6
= +
S ps 2.5 1.1

S ps=1.417

Specific gravity of primary sludge

1 0.05 0.95
= +
S psl 1.417 1

S psl =1.015

500
Voume of primary sludge=
1.015 x 1000 x 0.05

500 3
Voume of primary sludge= =9.85 m
1.015 x 1000 x 0.05

Compute the weight of solids present in digested sludge

Solids present ∈digested sludge=300 x 0.4+200=320 kg

120
fraction of volatile solids= =0.375
320
 200
fraction of ¿ solids= =0.625
320

Specific gravity of solids in digested sludge

1 0.375 0.625
= +
S ds 1.1 2.5

Sds =1.692

Specific gravity of digested sludge

1 0.1 0.9
= +
S dsl 1.692 1

Sdsl =1.0426

320
Voume of digested sludge=
1.0426 x 1000 x 0.1

320 3
Voume of digested sludge= =3.07 m
1.0426 x 1000 x 0.1

9.85−3.07
Percentage reduction∈volume= x 100=68.83 %
9.85

1 1/3 2/3
= +
S s 2.5 1.1

Ss =1.352

1 0.1 0.9
= +
S sl 1.352 1

Ssl =1.026

Estimate the size of digestor required to treat sludge from a treatment plant
which has a flow rate of 3800 m3/day. Check the volumetric loading and
estimate the percentage stabilization and gas produced. The quantity of dry
solids in the wastewater is 0.15 kg/m3 with BOD load applied 0.14 kg/m3,
assume the sludge from the wastewater contains 95% moisture content and
specific gravity of sludge is 1.02.
Temperature 35 0C
Efficiency 80%
Yield 0.05
Decay coefficient 0.03
Detention time 10 days
m3 ( S o −S e )
Volume of methane =0.35( Q −1.42 P x )
day 1000
3
38000 x 0.15 m
Sluge flow rate= =111.765
1.02 x 1000 x 0.05 day

kg
BOD load applied=0.14 x 38000=5320
day
3
volume of thereactor =111.765 x 10=1117.65 m

5320 kg
Volumetric loading rate= =4.76 3
1118 m day

YQ ( S o−Se )
Quantity of cell tissues produced per day P x =
1+ k d θ

YQ ( So −S e ) 0.05 x 5320 x 0.8 kg

P x= = =163.7
1+k d θ 1+0.03 x 10 day

Percentage stabilization of the sludge

Percentage stabilization of the sludge=

[ Q ( S o−S e ) −1.42 P x
Q So ]
x 100

[ Q ( So −S e )−1.42 Px
Q So ]x 100= [
5320 x 0.8−1.42 x 163.7
5320 ]
x 100=75.7 %
 Volume of methane

( ( So −S e )
)
3
m
Volume of methane =0.35 Q −1.42 P x
day 1000
3
m
0.35 x ( 5320 x 0.8−1.42 x 163.7 ) =1408
day

1408 m3
Total gas produced= =2101.5
0.67 day