SLUDGE TREATMENT AND

DISPOSAL
Date @June 27, 2023

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ALL ABOUT SLUDGE

What is sludge? Sludge — are concentrating impurities into
solid form, and then separating these solids from the bulk
liquid.
Where did sludge came from? Commonly aerobic wastewater
treatment produced sludge as the by-product of the unit
operations and processes involved.
Others used residual in referring sludge.
The higher the degree of wastewater treatment (higher volume
of wastewater, more reactors), the larger the quantity of
sludge will be generated hence, to be treated and handled.
After or in producing sludge, where or what will happen to
them? Before we disposed sludge, treatment is required!
There is a term called Biosolids — end-product of wastewater
sludge treatment processes.
— Treated or stabilized sludge

— Organic products of primary and secondary wastewater

treatment processes, that can be beneficially reused

Other terms for biosolids from different sources:

— Webster Collegiate Dictionary: solid organic matter

recovered from a sewage treatment process, and can be used
especially as fertilizer for plants

— McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms:

recyclable, primary organic solid material produced by
wastewater treatment processes

SLUDGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL 1

 — Water Environment Federation: sewage sludge

Why do we need to treat sludge? Untreated wastewater treatment

sludges contain solid organic substances, which are
putrescible, as well as pathogenic microorganisms, such as
bacteria, viruses, worm eggs and plant seeds, a stabilization
and sanitation processes are desirable prior to ultimate
disposal.

The main goal of sludge treatment is to convert putrescible

sludge into inert solid product (biosolids), that can be
safely disposed in the environment or reused.
Goal: turn “sludge” to “biosolids”

Characteristics of Solids and Sludge

Produce During Wastewater Treatment
*Based on where the sludge produced from or what process
preceded it

SOLIDS
Screening — include organic and inorganic materials large
enough to be removed on bar racks or screens.
Grit — heavier, smaller (denser) inorganic solids that settle
with relatively high velocities.
Scum/grease/froth — floatable materials from the surface of
primary or secondary settling tanks, or from grit chamber or
chlorine contact tank.

SLUDGE

Primary Sludge — from primary settling tank; gray, slimy, has

extremely offensive odor; primary sludge can be readily
digested under suitable conditions.

Activated Sludge — also known as secondary sludge; from

activated sludge process; normally brown flocculent; but if
the color is dark, means septic condition, and lighter, means
underaerated; in good condition, has inoffensive “earthy”
odor.; and can be digested readily alone, or when mixed with
primary sludge.

SLUDGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL 2

 Trickling Filter Sludge — from attached growth system; humus,
brownish flocculent, inoffensive odor when fresh; digested
readily.

Sludge from Chemical Precipitation — from chemical treatment

unit processes (chemical precipitations with metal salts);
dark, may be red if have iron,

BIOSOLIDS

Aerobically Digested Biosolids — from aerobic digestion; brown

to dark brown flocculent, inoffensive musty odor.

Anaerobically Digested Biosolids — from anaerobic digestion;

dark brown to black, containing large quantity of anaerobic
gas (such as methane (CH4 ) and CO2 , also known as biogas),
odor similar to burnt rubber or sealing wax; Primary sludge
when anaerobically digested produce more (about twice) CH4 as
WAS does.

SLUDGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL 3