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    19 views6 pages

    Sludge Treatment

    Uploaded by

    Santosh Aryal
    zxsa

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    WixireiA Sewage sludge treatment Sewage sludge treatment describes the processes used to manage and dispose of sewage sludge produced during sewage treatment. Sludge treatment is focused on reducing sludge weight and volume to reduce transportation and disposal costs, and on reducing potential health risks of disposal options. Water removal is the primary means of weight and volume reduction, while pathogen destruction is frequently accomplished through heating during thermophilic digestion, composting, or incineration. The choice ofa sludge treatment ‘method depends on the volume of sludge generated, and comparison of treatment costs required for available disposal options. Air-drying and composting may be attractive to rural communities, while limited land availability may make aerobic digestion and mechanical dewatering preferable for cities, and economies of scale may encourage energy recovery alternatives in metropolitan areas, ‘Sugge tesimantinanaarobe Sludge is mostly water with some amounts of solid material removed from liquid sewage. Primary sludge "ts ssusge roxas includes setleable solids removed during primary treatment in primary clarifiers. Secondary sludge is sludge Ss cosas Genno separated in secondary clarifies that are used in secondary treatment bioreactors ot processes using inorganic oxidizing agents. In intensive sewage treatment processes, the sludge produced needs to be removed from the liquid ine on a continuous basis because the volumes of the tanks in the liquid line have insufficient volume to store sludge. ‘Tis is dane in order to keep the treatment processes compact and in balance (production of sludge approximately equal to the removal of sludge). The sludge removed from the liquid line goes to the shudge treatment line. Aerobie processes (Such asthe activated sludge process) tend to produce more sludge compared with anaerobie processes. On the other hand, in extensive (natural) treatment processes, such as ponds and, constructed wellands, the produced sludge remains aecumulted in the treatment units Giguid line) and is only removed after several years af operation. Sludge treatment options depend on the amount of solids generated and other sitespecfic conditions. Composting is most often applied to smalscale plants with aerobic digestion for mid-sized operations, and anaerobic digestion for the larger-scale operations. The sludge is sometimes passed through a so~aledpre-thickener which de-waters the sludge. Types of pre-thickeners ince centrifugal sludge thickeners) rotary drum sludge thickeners and belt iter presses! Dewatered sludge may be incinerated or transported offsite for disposal ina landfill or tse as an agricutaral soil amendment.) Energy may be recovered from sludge through methane gas production during anaerobie digestion or through incineration of dried sludge, but energy yield is often insufficient to evaporate sludge water content or to power blowers, pumps, or centrifuges required for dewatering. Coarse primary solids and secondary sewage sludge may include toxic chemicals removed from liquid sewage by sonption onto solid particles in clarifier sludge. Reducing sludge volume may increase the concentration of some of these toxie chemicals inthe sludge © Contents Terminology Biosolids Treatment processes Thickening Dewatering Digestion ‘Sidestream treatment technologies ‘Composting Incineration Drying beds Emerging technologies Disposal or use as fertilizer Examples See also References ‘Sources External links Terminology Biosolids oso {s a term often used in wastewater engineering publications and public relations efforts by local water authorities when they want to put the focus on reuse of sewage!” sludge, after the sludge has undergone suitable tretment processes. In fact, biosolids are defined as organic wastewater solids that can be reused after stabilization processes such as anaerobic digestion and composting © The term "biosolids" was introdueed by the Water Environment Federation in the USS. in 1998.8 However, some people argue that the Sreq:anaeobealy sigetes she reorien wheal onae ss sa seagate Whee terms a euphemism to hide the fac that sewage sldge may ls contain substances that could be harmful tothe environment when the treated sludge ie applied olan, for example environmental persistent pharmaceutical pollutants end heavy metal compounds! Treatment processes ‘The sludges accumulated in a wastewater treatment process must be treated and disposed of ina safe a the raw sludges are reduced in volume by a process of digestion, effective manner. In many large plants Thickening ‘Thickening is often the first step ina sludge treatment process, Sludge from primary or secondary clarifiers thay be sired (often after addition of clarifying agents) to form larger, more rapidly sting aggregates) Primary sludge may be thickened to about 8 or 10 percent solids, while secondary sludge may be thickened to ahout 4 pereent solids. Thickeners often resemble a cartier with the addition of a stirring mechanism 221 ‘Thickened sludge with less than ten percent solids may receive additional sludge treatment while liquid thickener overflow is returned to the sewage treatment process. 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 eomposting. Centrifugation may be a preliminary step to reduce sludge volume for subsequent filtration or evaporation. Filtration may oceur through ‘underdrains in a sand drying bed or as a separate mechanical process in a belt filter press. Filtrte and ccentrate 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) Schomai ofa bal ie press to Digestion ‘exacted rtaly by gravity thon by sausezing he cbt though oles Many sludges are treated using a variety of digestion techniques, the purpose of which is to reduce the ‘amount of organie matter and the number of disease-causing microorganisms present in the solids. The most ‘common treatment options include anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, and composting, Shudge digestion offers significant cost advantages by reducing sludge quantity by nearly 50% and providing biogas as a valuable energy source. [#21 ‘The purpose of digestion is to reduce the amount of organic matter and the number of disease-causing microorganisms present in the solids. The process is often optimized to generate methane gas which can be used asa fuel to provide energy to power the plant or forsale lroaimen lant of Biseden Anaerobic digestion Germany, 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. ‘Mesopbilic 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 V9cherial owatonna (conriune) more simple compounds such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane!" ste soon vent Anaerobic digestion generates biogas with a high proportion of methane that may be used to both heat the Ho"#onie, Braet tank and ran engines or microturbines for other on-site processes. Methane generation isa key advantage of, the anaerobie 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 ‘rom the generators to maintain the temperature of the digestion plant at the required 3 ‘energy can be generated inthis way to produce more electricity than the machines require. ‘The Sludge Treatment Facility (T-PARK") is able to provide electricity for its own operation and even to the Hong Kong, power grid by making use of the heat generated during the process of the sludge incineration. ‘Aerobic digestion ‘Anaordie digesters for sewage Aerobic digestion is a bacterial process occurring in the presence of oxygen resembling a continuation of the Trssimart Pl, Selo Hnzonte, rated sludge process. Under aerobic conditions, bacteria rapidly consume organic matter and convert it Graz, Ftc carbon dloide, Once there is a lack of organi ater, bacteria di and are used as food by ater bacteria, ‘This stage ofthe process is known as endogenous respiration. Solids reduetion occurs in this phase. Because the aerobic digestion occurs much faster than anaerobic digestion, the capital costs of aerobic digestion are lower. However, the operating costs are characterstically much greater for aerobic digestion because of energy used by the blowers, pumps and motors needed to add oxygen to the process. However, recent technological advances include non-electric aerated filter systems that use natural air currents for the aeration instead ‘of electrically operated machinery. orleans we Aerobie digestion can also be achieved by using diffuser systems or jet aerators to oxidize the shudge. Fine bubble diffusers are typically the more cost-efficient diffusion method, however, plugging is fypically a problem due to sediment settling into the smaller air holes. Coarse bubble diffusers are more commonly used in activated sludge tanks or in the flocculation stages. A key component for selecting diffuser type is to ensure ‘twill produce the required oxygen transfer rate Sidestream treatment technologies Sludge treatment technologies that are used for thickening or dewatering of sludge have two products: the thickened or dewatered sludge, and a liguid fraction which is called sludge treatment liquids, sludge dewatering streams, liquors, centrate (if it stems from a centrifuge), filtrate (iit stems from a belt filter press) or similar. This liquid requires further treatment as itis high in nitrogen and phosphorus, particulary i the sludge has been anaerobically digested. The treatment can take place in the sewage treatment plant itself (by reveling the liquid to the start of the ‘treatment process) or asa separate process, Phosphorus recovery One method for treating sludge dewatering streams is by using a process that is also used for phosphorus recovery. Another benefit for sewage treatment plant operators of treating sludge dewatering streams for phosphorus recovery is that it reduces the formation of obstructive struvite scale in pipes, pumps and valves. Such obstructions can be a maintenance headache particularly for biological nutrient removal plants where the phosphorus content in the sewage sludge is elevated. For example, the Canadian company Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies is marketing a ‘process based on controlled chemical precipitation of phosphorus in a uidized bed reactor that recovers struvite in the form oferystallin pellets from sludge dewatering streams. The resulting rystalline product is sold to the agriculture, turf and ornamental plants sectors as fertilizer under the registered trade name "Crystal Green’! Composting Composting is an aerobic process of mixing sewage sludge with agricalturl byproduct sources of carbon such as sawdust, straw or woodchips. In ‘the presence of oxygen, bacteria digesting both the sewage sludge and the plant material generate heat to kill disease-causing microorganisms and parasites.'7# Maintenance of aerobie conditions with 10 to 45 percent oxygen requires bulking agents allowing. sir to circulate through the fine sludge solids. Stiff materials like eom cobs, nut shells, shredded tree-proning waste or bark from lumber or paper mills better separate sludge for ventilation than softer leaves and lawn clippings.) Light, biologically inert bulking agents like shredded tires may be used to provide structure where small, soft plant materials are the major source of earbon.l#1 Uniform distribution of pathogen-killng temperatures may be aided by placing an insulating blanket of previously composted sludge over aerated composting pies. Initial moisture content of the composting mixture should be about 50 percent; but temperatures may be inadequate for pathogen reduction where wet sludge or precipitation raises compost moisture content above 60 percent. Composting mixtures may be piled ‘on conerete pads with built-in air ducts to be covered by a layer of unmixed bulking agents. Odors may be minimized by using an aerating blower drawing vacuum through the composting pile via the underlying ducts and exhausting through # filtering pile of previously composted sludge to be replaced when moisture content reaches 70 percent. Liquid aecamulating in the underdrain ducting may be returned to the sewage treatment plant; and composting pads may be roofed to provide better moisture content control! After a composting interval sufficient for pathogen reduction, composted piles may be screened to recover undigested bulking agents for re-use; and composted solids passing through the sereen may be used as & soil amendment material with similar benefits to peat. The optimum initial carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of composting mixture is between 26-30:1; but the composting ratio of agricultural byproducts may be determined by the amount required to dilute concentrations of toxie chemicals in the sludge to acceptable levels for the intended compost use!®I Although toxieity is low in most agricultural byproducts, suburban grass clippings may have residual herbicide levels detrimental to some agricultural uses; and freshly composted wood byproducts may contain phytotoxins inhibiting germination of seedlings until detoxified by soll fungi. Incineration is also used, albeit to a much lesser degree 2219-2! Incineration of sludge is less common ‘because of air emissions coneerns and the supplemental fuel (typically natural gas or fuel oi) required to burn the low ealorifie value sludge and vaporize residual water. On a dry solids basis, the fuel value of sludge varies from about 9,500 British thermal units per pound (980 al/g) of undigested sewage sludge to 2,500 British = thermal units per pound (260 eal/g) of digested primary sludge Stepped multiple hearth incinerators with Se Weneraion paves hhigh residence time and fluidized bed incinerators sre the most common systems used to combust wastewater “ale (sie he erphasis on ar sludge. Co-firing in municipal waste-to-energy plants is occasionally done, this option being less expensive “"l/@"! assuming the facilites already exist for solid waste and there is no need for auxiliary fuel 6720-2 Incineration tends to maximize heavy metal concentrations in the remaining solid ash requiring disposal; but the option of returning wet scrubber effluent to the sewage treatment process may reduce air emissions by increasing concentrations of dissolved salts in sewage treatment plant effluent.221 Drying beds Simple sludge drying beds are used in many countries, particularly in developing countries, as they are a cheap and simple method to dry sewage sludge. Drainage water must be captured; drying beds are sometimes covered but usvally left uncovered, Mechanical devices to turn over the sludge in the initial stages of the drying process are also available on the market. sudige dying reorien wheal onae w ras soma Sewage tap teat Whee Drying beds are typically composed of four layers consisting of gravel and sand. The first layer is coarse gravel ‘that is 15 to 20 centimeters thick. Followed by fine gravel that is 10 centimeters thick. The third layer is sand that can be between 10 and 15 centimeters and serves as the filter between the sludge and gravel. Sludge dries ‘up and water percolates tothe first layer that is collected atthe drainage pipe that is beneath all layers.) Emerging technologies + Phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge or from sludge dewatering streams is receiving increased attention particularly in Sweden, Germany and Canada, as phosphorus isa limited resource (a concept also know as “peak phosphorus") and is needed as fetiizerto feed a growing world population. 4123] Ths simple evaporative sudne Phosphorus recovery methods from wastewater or sludge can be categorized by the ong af te used 'P3 Be nna Daascus nya matter (wastewater, sludge quo, cigestes or non-cigested sludge, ash) or by he type of recovery isa tral constoney of processes (precipitation, wet-chemical extraction and precipitation, thermal treatment). 21 Research oni doe bang dictated hosphorus recovery methods from sewage sludge has been caried out in Sweden and Garmany since" ima sting tw ne {around 2008, but the technologies currently under development are nat yet cast effective, given the Fipein he foreground Current pre of phosphorus onthe world market 827 ‘The Omni Processor i a process that was under development in 2016 and teats sewage sludge. Itcan generate a suplus of electrical enery ifthe input materials have the right level of yess.) ‘Thormal depolymerization produces ight hydrocarbons fom sludge heated to 250 “C and compressed to ow ‘Thermal hydrolysis sa two-stage proves combining high-pressure boing of shade, folowed by a rapt decompression. Tris combined acon strlizes the sludge and makes more degradable, which Improves digestion performance. Steriizaon dostoys pathogens inthe sludge resulting init exceeding the stringent requirements for land application (agriculture).!*) Thermal hydrolysis systems are operating at sewage teament plants in Europe, China and North America, and can generate electichy as well at : righ quay stidge 2) Thetnemalnyoves aytr s The use ofa green approach, suchas phytoremediation, hasbeen recently proposed asa valuable tool to i iis veins lst n improve sewage sidge contaminated by trace elements and persistent organic potutnts ©! aang OC setae Disposal or use as fertilizer ‘When a liquid sludge is produced, further treatment may be required to make it suitable for final disposal. Sludges are typically thickened and/or dewatered to reduce the volumes transported off-site for disposal. Processes for reducing water content include lagooning in drying beds to produce a cake that can be applied to land or incinerated; pressing, where sludge is mechanically filtered, often through cloth screens to produce ‘firm cake; and centrifugation where the sludge is thickened by centrifugally separating the solid and liquid. Sludges can be disposed of by liquid ‘injection to land or by disposal in a land ‘There is no process which completely eliminates the need to dispose of treated sewage sludge. ‘Much sludge originating from commercial or industrial areas is contaminated with toxic materials that are released into the sewers from ‘industrial or commercial processes or from domestic sources.!*! Hlevated concentrations of such materials may make the shudge unsuitable for agricultural use and it may then have to be incinerated or disposed of to landfill Despite the apparent unsuitability of atleast some sewage sludge, application to farm-land remains a commonly used option! $4) Examples Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ‘The Edmonton Composting Facility, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, isthe largest sewage sludge composting sit in North America) New York City, U.S. ‘Sewage sludge can be supetheated and converted it into pelletized granules that are high in nitrogen and other organic materials In New York ‘ity, for example, several sewage treatment plants have dewatering facilities that use large centrifuges along, with the adition of chemicals such as polymer to further remove liquid from the sludge. The proguct which is leis called "cake," and thet is picked up by companies which turn it into fertilizer pellets. This produ, also called biosolids then sold to loeal farmers ane turf farms asa soil amendment or fertilizer, reducing the amount of space required to dispose of shudge in landfills 91 Southern California, U.S, orleans a Sevag tap teeta In the very large metropolitan areas of southern California inland communities retum sewage sludge to the sewer system of communities st Tower eleva ns to he reprocessed ata few very large treatment plants on the Pacific coast. Ths reduces the required size of intereeptor sewers and allows local recycling of treated wastewater while retaining the economy of a single sludge processing facility and is an example of how ‘sewage sludge can help solve an energy criss. See also ' Fecal sludge management References 1. Henze, M, van Loasdrecht, M.C.M, Ekama, G.A. Brdjanovi, D. (2008). Biological Wastewater Treatment: Principles, Modeling and Design (hitpwaponline,com/ebooks/baoK'59/Biological-Wastowat er-Treatment-Principles). [WA Publishing, doi 10.2166/978176040 1867 (httpslidoi.org/10.2166%2F97817804 01867), ISBN 978-1-78040-186-7. (Spanish and Arabic versions are available online (https Jwaponline.comlebooks/book/707/Trata ‘miento-biologico-de-aguas-residuales) for (res) 2.\Von Sperling, M. (2015). "Wastewater Characteristics, Treatment and Disposaf’(httos:/iwaponiine.comiebooks/book/72/). Vater Ineligence Online, 6: 9781780402086. doi 10.2166/9781760402086 (hiipsfidoi.org/10.2166%2F97817804 (02086), ISSN 1478-1777 (hitps:/iwww.worldca orgiissn/1476-177 2. "Centrifuge Thickening and Dewatering. Fact sheet” (htps:/uww.e pa govrbiosolidsicentrfuge-thickening-and-dewatering). EPA September 2000. EPA 832-F-00-053, "Bolt Fiker Press, Fact sheet" (hitps:livww.epa.goviblasolids/ ‘er-press). Biosolids. EPA. September 2000. EPA 832-F-00-057, 5. Panagos, Panos; Ballabio, Cristiano: Lugato, Emanuele: Jones, ‘Aewy; Borrell, Pasquale: Scarpa, Simone; Orgiazzi, Alberto Montanarelia, Luca (2018-07-08). "Potential Sources of ‘Antropagenic Copper Inputs to European Agricultural Sols” (nip slldo\org/10,3390%2Fsu10072380). Susfainabity. 10 (7) 2380, do 10,3390/s410072360 (htips//d0|org/10,3390%2F su10072380). ISSN 2071-1060 (hitps:/hvww.worldcatorgiissni207-1050) 6.C., Reed, Sherwood (1988). Natural systems for waste mani ‘and treatment (httos:/archive.orgidatallsinaturalsyste ‘msf00000reed/page/268), Micclebrooks, E, Joe,, Crites, Ronald W. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 268-290 (htps:/archive.orgidetailsinat Uralsystemsfo0000reedipager268). ISBN 0070515212. (OCLC 18087827 (htips:/vivw.worldcat orgiocle/ 16087827, 7.*Sludge Facts’ (htp:wwwsludgefacts.org). North Sandwich, NHI Citzens for Sludge-Free Land. Retrieved 2016-08-29. 8. Metcalf Eddy (2003). Wastewater engineering : treatment and rouse (ath €0.). McGraw Hill, USA. p. 1449. ISBN 0-07-112250-8, 9. Fair, Geyer & Okun 1968, pp. 21-28 ‘Stool, E,W; McGhee, Terence J. (1979). Water supply and ‘Sewerago (Sth od.). Now York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 633-534. ISBN 0070609292. OCLC 3771026 (htips:sinwu.worldcal orglocl 3771026) ‘Steel, E. W; McGhee, Terence J. (1979). Water supply and ‘Sewerage (Sth ed.). Now York: MeGraw-Hll, pp. 635-545. ISBN 0070609202. OCLC 3771026 (htps:/iwwu.worldcat.orglocle! 3771026) 12. "Sludge treatment and disposal - efficient & safe | Endress+Hauser* tips: /iwww.endress,com/envindusty-experiisefwater-&-wastewate 1Sludge-treatment-and-

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