Received: 20 October 2022 Revised: 14 May 2023 Accepted: 12 June 2023

DOI: 10.1002/ep.14227

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Remediation and Treatment

Solar drying process for sewage sludge in a drying bed: A case

study in Tunisia

Azza Masmoudi 1 | Ahlem Ben Sik Ali 1 | Hatem Dhaouadi 2 | Hatem Mhiri 1

1
Laboratoire de Thermique et
Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, Abstract
Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir,
The aim of this work is to investigate and model the sewage sludge drying kinetics in
Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
2
Département de Chimie, Faculté des a lab-scale drying bed by varying the sludge layer thickness during winter and sum-
Sciences, UR 13ES63–Chimie Appliquée– mer. During each season, five experiments were carried out with increasing the
Environnement, Université de Monastir,
Monastir, Tunisia
sludge thickness by 0.5 cm each time. To achieve moisture content on a dry basis of
12%, the sludge drying period varied between 120 and 312 h in winter and between
Correspondence
Azza Masmoudi, Laboratoire de Thermique et
72 and 168 h in summer. Thus, by increasing the sludge thickness, the drying time
Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, increased. The different curves of the moisture content evolution and the drying
Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir,
Université de Monastir, Rue Ibn El Jazzar,
rates were analyzed. The drying curves show that the warm-up phase (phase 0) and
Monastir, Tunisia. the constant rate phase (phase 1) are absent during the winter and summer seasons.
Email: azza.masmoudi@gmail.com
Regardless of the sludge thickness, only the falling rate period was observed. In addi-
tion, the moisture content dropped quickly throughout the first 24 h because of the
elimination of interstitial water. The drying characteristic curve has been represented
by a 3rd degree polynomial. Mathematical equations were used to describe the
experimental curves of drying kinetics. The logarithmic model was the most reliable
for simulating the changes of reduced moisture content versus drying time in winter
and summer.

KEYWORDS
drying bed, drying characteristic curve, drying curves, drying kinetics, sewage sludge, thickness

1 | I N T RO DU CT I O N wastewater treatment has certain characteristics in common. It is

Sewage sludge is the main waste product from biological wastewater
treatment. It consists of residues not removed by the pre-treatment,
non-degraded organic substances, mineral substances and microor-
ganisms created by the microbiological activity that occurs in the sta-
tions. The amount of sewage sludge is in continuous growth since the
wastewater production is increasing. The global discharges of waste-
water from the domestic and industrial sectors were estimated by
450 km3 in 2010.1 In 2018, 122 wastewater treatment stations in
Tunisia treated 274,000,000 m3 of wastewater and produced about
3 2
200,000 m of dry sludge.
Besides, one of the main purposes of the wastewater treatment
plant is the sludge treatment. In fact, the sludge produced during
liquid since it contains more than 90% of water. In addition, it is fer-
mentable, which causes a bad smell. Therefore, the sludge must go
through a variety of treatment procedures to decrease its volume and
stabilize the organic matter. Drying is a significant step for sludge
management as can remove an important quantity of water and con-
sequently reduce the final volume of sludge. As a result, this proce-
dure makes the operations of recovery, transport and storage easier.3
Two main types of drying are used for sludge treatment: thermal
drying and solar drying. Yet, the thermal drying is characterized by a
high-energy consumption and it has negative impacts on the environ-
ment. Therefore, to reduce the energy consumption and to protect
the environment, the specialists are oriented towards the application
of solar energy in the drying of sludge. In Tunisia, the solar radiation is

Environ Prog Sustainable Energy. 2023;e14227. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ep © 2023 American Institute of Chemical Engineers. 1 of 10
https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14227
2 of 10
accessible all year long. Indeed, Tunisia receives an average of
4.8 kWh/m2 day of solar energy and has approximately 2860–3200 h
4
of sunshine annually. This solar energy is sufficient to dry the sludge
especially in summer. Among the solar drying techniques used in the
sludge drying in Tunisia, we can mention the drying bed. The drying
process in a drying bed is based on the drainage of liquid through the
sand and gravel to the bottom of the bed, and the evaporation of
water from the surface of the sludge to the air.5
However, in sites where rainfall is frequent and occurs for long
periods, a drying bed may not be feasible.5 That is why the studies on
this method are scarce. Some researchers have investigated the
sludge drying bed. Hossam et al.6 have conducted an experimental
study to assess the drainability of sludge generated by different treat-
ment processes and to compare the performance of the solar heated
drying bed and the regular drying bed located in the treatment plant
of Alexandria. Al-Muzaini7 has determined the performance of the
drying beds used in the Jahra (Kuwait) wastewater treatment plant,
particularly as regards the quality of sludge produced in relation to the
international standards. Al-Nozaily et al.8 have presented a study
about the impact of some factors on the sludge drying time including
sand type, blocks spacing, Geo-Web support instead of blocks support
and polymer addition. Joceline et al.9 have compared the drying bed
with the planted drying bed to identify which one provides better
results in Burkina Faso.
The drying curves are produced in order to better illustrate the
features of sewage sludge during the drying process. The heating-up
phase (phase 0), the constant drying-rate phase (phase 1), and the
decreasing drying-rate phase (phase 2) are shown in these representa-
tions as the three main drying stages. Several researches have investi-
gated the curves of different drying methods. However, the
10–12
researches on the drying curves of the drying bed are scarce.
In spite of the complexity of the phenomena involved in drying
and the difficulty of determining certain parameters, specialists have
focused on an empirical approach to interpret the experimental results
and to identify a law applicable on different conditions. This is the
principle of the drying characteristic curve. In addition, to make a pre-
cise estimate of sludge reduced moisture content at any moment in
the drying process, thin-layer drying kinetics curves are represented
by empirical or semi-empirical mathematical models.
Some researchers have used these methods in sludge drying stud-
ies with different techniques. Amadou13 has presented the solar dry-
ing characteristic curve under a greenhouse. Bennamoun and
Leonard 14
have used empirical equations to model the experimental
findings of a cross-flow belt dryer. In order to find the model that best
describes the drying curves with an indirect forced convection solar
dryer, Idlimam et al.15 have analyzed eight widely used models.
It is true that the drying of sludge through a drying bed is used in
Tunisia and some others countries, but this is the first study that
determines the drying curves, the drying characteristic curve and the
thin-layer drying kinetics models of sewage sludge in a drying bed.
Therefore, the objective of this work is the experimental study and
modeling of sewage sludge drying in a lab-scale drying bed. The influ-
ence of climatic conditions and the effect of thickness on drying
MASMOUDI ET AL.
characteristics were studied. Drying curves, drying characteristic
curves and thin-layer drying models were investigated.
2 | M A T E R I A L S A N D M ET H O D S
2.1 | Experimental design and procedure
In order to evaluate the drying bed process, a pilot air-drying bed
made of Plexiglas was constructed and installed in the area of waste-
water treatment plant (WWTP) of Ksour Essef. It has a length of 1 m
and a width of 0.5 m. It consists of two layers. Gravel makes up the
bottom layer, which is 10 cm thick, and sand makes up the top layer,
which is 5 cm thick. To drain the water, a PVC pipe is deposed below
the two layers. Figure 1 presented the drying prototype used in the
experimental campaign.
In fact, in a drying bed, a significant quantity of water leaves the
sludge by drainage, thus the provision of an adequate under drainage
system is essential. This system consists of a sand layer and a gravel
layer. After a series of preliminary tests, we found that a drainage sys-
tem of a 10 cm thick gravel layer and a 5 cm thick sand layer provides
the best results: a good and rapid drainage.
Besides, according to Tchobanoglous et al.,16 in a conventional
drying bed, the layer of sand should be from 40% to 50% of the height
of the drainage system. They took into account the loss of sand due
to the cleaning operations (sludge removal). Besides, deeper sand
layers generally retard the draining process. In our study, the sand
layer is about 35% of the height of the drainage system. This is
because we assumed that this layer would be replaced by another
each time we realize a new experiment.
In his study, Al-Nozaily et al.8 have used a pilot plant of the fol-
lowing dimensions 4.6 m3
2.3 m3
1.25 m3 and composed of a
20 cm thick fine sand layer, a 15 cm thick coarse sand layer and a
15 cm thick gravel layer. Joceline et al.9 have conducted the experi-
ments in three pilot drying beds filled with the layers of the following
materials: coarse gravel (20 cm), fine gravel (30 cm) and sand
gravel (30 cm).
A Thermoken AVTD anemometer with a precision of 0.1 m/s was
installed in the pilot drying bed to measure the air velocity. The den-
sity of the solar radiation that the sludge was exposed to was mea-
sured using a KIMO solarimeter. A Thermokon LCN FTW04 LCD
thermo-hygrometer was installed outside the bed with an accuracy of
±2% for determining the relative humidity and ±0.5 C for the air
temperature.
In order to investigate the effect of the sludge layer thickness on
the drying characteristics, five different sludge thicknesses were
examined and compared. The thickness of the experiments was varied
between 1 and 3 cm by adding 0.5 cm each time. Therefore, the vol-
ume treated during the experimental campaign was varied between
5 and 15 L. This choice is based on previous work.12,17
To get data about the sludge drying bed efficiency throughout
different climate conditions, the experimental campaign was achieved
during winter and summer. Meteorological data such as air
MASMOUDI ET AL. 3 of 10

FIGURE 1 Pilot-drying bed.

TABLE 1 Characteristics of the sludge used in the experimental campaign in winter and summer.

Season Winter Summer

Thickness (cm) 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
ρ (kg/m3) 986 983.2 971.2 976.8 998 989 994 975.8 980.5 978.2
mi (kg) 4.93 7.37 9.712 12.21 14.97 4.94 7.45 9.758 12.25 14.67
Vi (L) 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 5 7.5 10 12.5 15
pH 6.2 6.8 6.5 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.2 6.1 6.4 6.5
TS (%) 4 3.95 4.1 3.9 3.7 4.5 4.8 4 3.7 3.6
VS (%) 72.5 68 74.5 70 75 72.5 68 84.4 70 75

Note: ρ = density of sludge; mi = initial mass of sludge; Vi = initial volume of sludge; TS = total solids; VS = volatile solids.

temperature and solar radiation density were recorded using different
instruments. A HANNA HI 9812 pH meter and a conductivity meter
were used to measure the pH and electrical conductivity, respectively.
These parameters were determined according to the electrometric
method and following the experimental protocol proposed by the
Center of Expertise in Environmental Analysis of Quebec.18,19
The moisture and dry solid content are important parameters in
the characterization of sludge. They were calculated according to the
gravimetric method.20 To follow their variation during the drying
operation, daily samples from different positions of the sludge layer
were analyzed.
2.2 | Sewage sludge characteristics
where W0 = initial weight of the sample. Wd = Weight of the dry
solid obtained by heating the sludge in an oven at 105 C for 24 h.
Consequently, the drying rate (% dry basis/h) is estimated with
the following equation:
dX
V ¼ , ð2Þ
dt
where V = Drying rate. dt = interval between two consecutive mea-
sures during the drying process.
The principle of the drying characteristic curve, proposed by Van
Meel,23 is to standardize the average moisture contents and the dry-
ing rates to obtain a unique curve for a given product. This notion is
expressed by:

dX
The sludge was collected from the wastewater treatment plant  dt
V red ¼
dX  ¼ f ðXred Þ, ð3Þ
(WWTP) of Ksour Essef in Tunisia. It came about as a result of sec-  dt i
ondary activated sludge treatment and gravity thickening. Table 1


contains a list of sludge's characteristics. where Vred = reduced drying rate.  dX dt = drying rate at instant t (%


dry basis/h);  dX
dt i = rate of the first drying phase which is equal to
the speed value at Xred = 1. (%dry basis/h).
2.3 | Mathematical modeling Xred = reduced moisture content indicated21 by:

The average moisture content on a dry basis (%), which represents the X  Xeq
Xred ¼ , ð4Þ
X c  Xeq
quantity of water contained in the sample, is defined by21,22:

ðW 0 – W d Þ where X = average moisture content. Xeq = equilibrium moisture con-

X¼
100, ð1Þ
Wd tent that relates to the limit value obtained after a time for a product.
4 of 10 MASMOUDI ET AL.

TABLE 2 Mathematical models used to model sludge drying

kinetics.

Model Expression of the model

Newton 24
Xred = exp (kt) (5)
Page25 Xred = exp (ktn) (6)
Modified Page26 Xred = exp ((kt)n) (7)
Henderson et Pabis 27
Xred = a exp (kt) (8)
Logarithmic 28
Xred = a exp (kt) + c (9)
Wang and Singh29 Xred = 1 + at + bt2 (10)
Two-term30 Xred = a exp (k0t) + b exp (k1t) (11)
Two-term Xred = a exp (kt) + (1  a) exp (kat) (12)
exponential31
Approximation Xred = a exp (kt) + (1  a) exp (kbt) (13)
of diffusion32

Note: a, b, k, k0, k1, and n = constants to be determined.

FIGURE 3 Solar radiation density variations in different seasons.

TABLE 3 Results of the experiments.

Winter Summer

Thickness (cm) % DS Drying time (h) % DS Drying time (h)

1 89 120 89.2 72
1.5 88.9 168 89 96
2 89.3 216 89.5 120
2.5 88.5 264 88.9 144
3 89.7 312 89.3 168

Xcr = critical moisture content marking the transition between the

constant rate period (phase 1) and falling rate period (phase 2).
The modeling of thin-layer solar drying curves consists in repre-
senting the curves of the reduced moisture content as a function of
FIGURE 2 Temperature variations in different seasons. time (Xred = f (t)) by mathematical equations in the form of empirical
MASMOUDI ET AL. 5 of 10

F I G U R E 4 Eliminated water mass,

evaporated water mass, percolated
water mass.

F I G U R E 5 Variation of moisture content on a dry basis as a

function of time during different seasons. FIGURE 6 Sludge drying curves in different seasons.
6 of 10 MASMOUDI ET AL.

or semi-empirical relationships. The constants of these models are The coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-square param-
adjusted to be suitable with the experimental results. Table 2 regroups eter χ2 are calculated to compare the models and to evaluate the
nine drying characteristic equations existed in the literature and com- fitting of a model to experimental data. These values are estimated
pared to describe the kinetics of sludge drying using a drying bed. as follows:
Semi-empirical models are generally based on Fick's second law


or its simplified variation: Newton's cooling law. The models derived X
N
Xred pre,i  X red exp,i
R2 ¼  2 , ð14Þ
from Newton's cooling law used in this study are Newton Model i¼1 Xred exp,i  X red exp,i
(Equation 5), Page Model (Equation 6) and Modified Page Model
(Equation 7). The models derived from Fick's second law are Hender-
N

P 2
son and Pabis Model (Equation 8), Logarithmic Model (Equation 9), Xred exp,i  Xred pre,i
Two-term Model (Equation 11), Two-term exponential Model χ 2 ¼ i¼1 , ð15Þ
Nz
(Equation 12) and Approximation of diffusion Model (Equation 13).
However, Wang and Singh Model (Equation 10) is an empirical model. 1X N
With X red exp,i ¼ X red exp,i , ð16Þ
N i¼1

where Xred exp,i = the ith experimental reduced moisture content.

Xredpre,i = the ith reduced moisture content predicted by each model.
N = the experimental points number. z = the constants number.

3 | RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 | Drying conditions

The drying experiments were carried out in winter from December

5, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. until February 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. However,
in summer, two experiments were carried out from June 5, 2017 at
10:00 a.m. to June 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. The other three experi-
ments were conducted from June 20, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. to July
20, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
All campaigns have ended when the samples achieved moisture
content on a dry basis of 12%. In fact, it was found that the drying
process was finished in most of the initial studies once the moisture
content was 12%. When two consecutive measurements of the mois-
ture content were nearly constant, drying was deemed to be com-
plete. Therefore, this value has been selected as the moisture
content's final value.
Figures 2, 3 show the variations of temperature and solar radiation
densities every 24 h during the operations. The solar radiation
density is a climatic factor, which affects the operation of drying
beds. According to the figure, it ranged between 94 and 250 W/
m2 in winter and 339 and 604 W/m2 in summer. The temperature
reached a maximum of 25.6 C in winter and 35.6 C in summer. In
the current work, there was no rainfall recorded during the drying
FIGURE 7 Drying characteristic curves in different seasons. experiments in all seasons.

T A B L E 4 Coefficients of the
Parameter values
adjustment polynomials, coefficients of
Experience a b c d R2 χ2 determination and chi-square values.
Winter 0.72395 1.90837 2.21255 0.02018 0.9976 10.1
104
Summer 0.08124 1.9315 2.11468 0.01127 0.99962 7.62
104
MASMOUDI ET AL. 7 of 10

TABLE 5 Mathematical models results of sludge drying kinetics in different seasons.

Winter Summer
Season
Model Coefficient R 2
χ 2
Coefficient R2 χ2
Newton k = 0.02436 0.99662 2.04
104 k = 0.04 0.9943 4.17
104
4
Page k = 0.02091; n = 1.03863 0.99695 1.88
10 k = 0.02668; n = 1.11798 0.99681 2.42
104
Modified Page k = 0.02414; n = 1.03878 0.99695 1.88
104 k = 0.03911; n = 1.11744 0.99681 2.42
104
4
Henderson and a = 1.01593; k = 0.02473 0.9968 1.97
10 a = 1.03743; k = 0.04143 0.99541 3.48 104
Pabis
Logarithmic a = 1.02039; k = 0.02335; 0.99882 7.43
105 a = 1.04551; k = 0.03894; 0.99753 1.94
104
c = 0.01587 c = 0.1864
Wang et Singh a = 0.02379; b = 0.00013 0.97582 0.00473 a = 0.01916; b = 0.00008 0.83565 0.012
104
Two-term a = b = 0.50796; 0.9968 2.05
104 a = b = 0.5187; 0.99541 3.75
104
k0 = k1 = 0.02473 k0 = k1 = 0.04142
Two-term a = 1.4; k = 0.03895 0.99691 1.9
104 a = 1.62561; k = 0.05064 0.99662 2.56
104
exponential
Approximation a = 17.11; b = 1.0148; 0.99692 1.93
104 a = 1.12186; b = 6.92456; 0.9972 2.2
104
of diffusion k = 0.03 k = 0.04445

3.2 | Dry sludge characteristics
The final results of the drying experiences in different seasons are sum-
marized in Table 3. The final dry solid content values of sludge are
approximately 89% which correspond to moisture content on a dry basis
of 12%. The sludge drying period varied from 120 to 312 h in winter and
from 72 to 168 h in summer. We noted that the drying time in winter is
greater than that in summer. This is due to the weather conditions since
in winter, the ambient temperature and solar density are low compared
to the other season. Salihoglu et al.33 et Mathioudakis et al.,34 who have
studied the solar drying of sludge under natural conditions, have shown
also that the drying time in winter was higher than in summer.
3.3 | Percolation and evaporation water mass
The drying process in a drying bed is based on drainage of liquid
through the sand and gravel to the bottom of the bed, and evapora-
5
tion of water from the surface of the sludge to the air.
The mass of water evaporated can be expressed by:
Evaporated water mass ¼ initial water mass
 ðpercolated water mass þ final water massÞ:
ð17Þ
The amount of water eliminated by evaporation and by percola-
tion are presented in Figure 4. The results show that the amount of
evaporated water varied between 65% and 75% in all experiments.
Therefore, the evaporated water quantity is greater than the perco-
lated one. Thus, it can be concluded that the sludge used has more
bound water than free water. This result is logical since the sludge is
thickened before being introduced into the drying bed. Heinss et al.35
reported that there is more evaporation and less percolation with
sludge that has more bound water. Besides, Badji36 presented that no
leachate was observed in a study with preliminary thickened sludge.
3.4 | Drying curves
The drying curves describe either the evolution of the sludge moisture
content X versus time t, or the evolution of the drying rate (dX/dt)
as a function of time t or even the evolution of the drying rate (dX/
dt) versus X: the curve developed by Krischer and Kast.37 Figure 5
shows the evolution of moisture content as a function of time for dif-
ferent sludge layer thicknesses.
For the different seasons, it was observed that with increasing the
thickness of the sludge layer, the drying time increased. For example, to
reach a moisture content of 12% on a dry basis, a 1 cm thickness layer
required respectively 3 days in summer and 5 days in winter. While, the
drying period of the sludge layer of 3 cm thickness was 7 days in summer
and 13 days in winter. In fact, by increasing the sludge layer, the amount
of sludge and water augmented. Therefore, the drying period increased.
Besides, regardless of the sludge layer thickness, the moisture con-
tent decreased rapidly during the first 24 h. In fact, the elimination of
interstitial water is the reason of this decline. Lowe38 indicated that the
evolution curve of the moisture content versus time would usually
undergo a constant rate with a first drop followed by a second drop.
According to the bonds of water with solid particles, we found four cate-
gories of water inside a sludge: free water, interstitial water, surface
water and chemically bound water.38,39 The free water represents the
largest fraction in the sludge. It moves freely since it is not bound to solid
particles. It is eliminated during the constant drying period. The interstitial
water is fixed between the sludge flocs and bound by capillary forces.
The first fall removes this water. In addition, the surface water covers the
entire surface of the sludge particles in several layers of water molecules.
It is linked to the particles by adsorption and adhesion forces. It is
8 of 10
FIGURE 8 Modeling of sludge drying curves during different
seasons.
removed by the second fall. The final moisture content in the sludge
describes the chemically bound water that is not eliminated in the drying
experiments. Indeed, this water is chemically bound to the parti-
cles by strong bonds. Thus, it requires thermal drying at tempera-
 40
tures above 105 C for its removal. Sapmaz and Kiliçaslan
presented that by decreasing the moisture content of the sludge,
the specific energy consumption of the drying process increases.
In fact, when the amount of free water diminishes, the intracellular
water must diffuse to the particle surface which is a relatively slow
process. This phase sees a drop in drying rate and an increase in
specific energy consumption.
The curve of the drying rate (dX/dt) versus X, which is proposed by
37
Krischer and Kast, designate the existence of three main phases during
drying: the heating-up phase (phase 0), the constant drying-rate phase
MASMOUDI ET AL.
(phase 1) and the decreasing drying-rate phase (phase 2). In some
studies,41,42 the drying kinetics have the same shape of the Krischer curve.
In fact, Wang et al.,10 who have studied the combination of foaming pre-
treatment and drying process in an oven, observed the three main
phases of drying. However, other scientists 12,42,43 presented that
no regular shape is followed by the drying kinetics in some cases
of the solar drying.
In our work, for all the experiences in different seasons and what-
ever the thickness of the sludge layer was (Figure 6), the drying rates
were higher at the beginning of drying and they gradually decreased
with time. Therefore, the warm-up period (phase0) and the constant
rate period (phase1) were not observed. Only the falling rate period is
present (phase2). This is due to the absence of free water on the
sludge surface. In fact, before being dried, the sludge was thickened.
Amadou13 and Belloulid et al.11 who have investigated the drying of
sludge under a greenhouse found similar results. However, Benna-
moun et al.44 presented three main phases of drying during the sludge
bed drying at air temperatures ranging from 80 to 200 C. Furthermore,
we can consider that the sludge used in the experimental campaign is
characterized by important quantities of plant origin. Indeed, Kechaou
et al.,45 Belghit et al.46 and Idlimam et al.15 indicated that the heating-
up phase (phase 0) and the constant rate phase are not present in some
plant products. Vaxelaire et al.47 showed that during the falling rate
periods, the drying process is regulated by both the external conditions
(Temperature, humidity, velocity) and the material transport properties
which are affected by the product's temperature and moisture content,
as well as structural data such as permeability.
It is noted also that for the different thicknesses, the maximum dry-
ing rate in summer is greater than that in winter. For a sludge layer thick-
ness of 3 cm, the maximum drying rate was 55% dry basis/h in summer
and 25% dry basis/h in winter. For a sludge layer thickness of 1.5 cm, it
was 68% dry basis/h in summer and 55% dry basis/h in winter. This is
due to the fact that the ambient air temperature is higher in summer.
3.5 | Drying characteristic curve
The drying characteristic curve (DCC) provides a unique representa-
tion of the drying curves, for various drying conditions, by regulating
the moisture content and the drying rate.23 The interest of this curve
is very important; it is enough to know the values of the initial and
equilibrium moisture contents to be able to describe the kinetics of
sludge drying under any conditions. Figure 7 illustrates the reduced
drying rate versus reduced moisture contents curves as well as the
drying characteristic curve for different seasons.
For the smoothing of the drying characteristic curve, we have
determined the characteristic equation of the drying rate in the form
of a degree 3 polynomial13,41,48 using the OriginPro 8 software:
V red ¼ a Xred 3 þ b Xred 2 þ c Xred þ d, ð18Þ
where: a, b, c, and d = coefficients to be determined experimentally.
MASMOUDI ET AL.
The values of the coefficients a, b, c and d, the coefficient of
determination R2 and the chi-square parameter χ2 for each season are
given in Table 4.
3.6 | Modeling of experimental curves for thin-
layer sludge drying
The coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-square parameter χ2
are two criteria for analyzing the accuracy of the models that describe
the kinetics in the drying process. The specific constants and the static
parameters were calculated using OriginPro 8 software based on the
nonlinear optimization method. The coefficients of each model, the
coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-square parameter χ2 for
each season are summarized in Table 5.
The best representative model of sewage sludge drying kinetics is
the one that offers the highest value of R2 and the lowest value of χ2.
In these conditions, the values of the coefficient of determination R2
and of the chi-square parameter χ2 changed from 0.97582 to 0.99882
and from 7.43
105 to 0.00473 respectively in winter and from
0.83565 to 0.99753 and from 1.94
104 to 0.012 respectively in
summer. The results show that the logarithmic model was the optimal
model for the simulation of the sludge drying curves in winter and
summer with R2 equal to 0.99882 and 0.99753 respectively and χ2
equal to 7.43
105 and 1.94
104. RuiXun et al.,49 who has stud-
ied the thin-layer drying kinetics of sewage sludge using an indirect
solar dryer, presented the same result. However, for different drying
experiences, the Wang and Singh model was the least appropriate.
The suitable models for each case are shown in Figure 8.
4 | C O N CL U S I O N
In this work, the effect of the sludge layer thickness on the drying
characteristics through a drying bed in different seasons was investi-
gated. During each season, five experiments were conducted by
increasing the layer's thickness by 0.5 cm each time.
The results show that the drying time increased with the increase
of sludge thickness. Indeed, to reach a moisture content on a dry basis
of 12%, which corresponds to a final dry solid content in the order of
89%, the drying time varied from 120 to 312 h in winter and from
72 to 144 h in summer.
The drying curves indicate the absence of the warm-up period
(phase0) and the constant rate period (phase1) in winter and summer
seasons. Only the falling rate period was observed (phase2). In fact,
initially, the drying rates were higher and they progressively reduced
over time. Furthermore, during the first 24 h, there was a fast reduc-
tion in moisture content. This is due to the elimination of the intersti-
tial water.
For the smoothing of the drying characteristic curve, we have
determined the characteristic equation of the drying rate in the form
of a third degree polynomial. The mathematical modeling of the thin-
layer drying process of sludge was developed in this paper using a
9 of 10
nonlinear regression method. The logarithmic model was the best
model to describe the evolution of reduced moisture content versus
time in winter and summer.
AUTHOR CONTRIBU TIONS
Azza Masmoudi: Investigation; visualization; writing – original draft;
writing – review and editing. Ahlem Ben Sik Ali: Validation;
writing – original draft. Hatem Dhaouadi: Conceptualization; valida-
tion. Hatem Mhiri: Conceptualization; funding acquisition; supervi-
sion; validation.
DATA AVAILABILITY STAT EMEN T
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the
corresponding author upon reasonable request.
OR CID
Azza Masmoudi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1945-2395
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How to cite this article: Masmoudi A, Ben Sik Ali A,
Dhaouadi H, Mhiri H. Solar drying process for sewage sludge
in a drying bed: A case study in Tunisia. Environ Prog
Sustainable Energy. 2023;e14227. doi:10.1002/ep.14227