RESIDUALS

PR0CESSING AND
DISPOSAL
:Introduction
Water treatment plants residuals from various treatment
processes .The residuals contain organic and inorganic turbidity-
causing ,including algae ,bacteria ,viruses ,silt and clay ,and
precipitated that are produced during treatment .Historically , The
water treatment residuals were discharged into the natural water
. system
These residuals are considered industrial wastes , and their
discharge into the natural waters is subject to a permit system
under the National Discharge Elimination System (NODES).With
restrictions on surface water discharges of residuals from water
treatment plants , other alternatives available are disposal on land
. and disposal into the sanitary sewers
: SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESIDUAL STREAMS

: ALUM OR IRON COAGULATION SLUDAGE

Aluminum and iron salts are the principal chemicals
used for removal of colloidal particles .Many plants
utilize lime in conjunction with alum or iron to
achieve partial softening and to improve coagulation.
Polymers are also used as coagulant and-or filter aids
to improve removal of colloidal particles in
.coagulation and filtration processes
:Physical and Chemical Quality
Basic physical and chemical properties of coagulation sludge's
: are listed below
The solid concentration, thickening, density ,and dewater ability- -
.of the sludge
High-turbidity waters usually result in sludge's that are more - -
. concentrated and less difficult to dewater
Coagulation sludge from water containing high algae-
concentration will result in sludge's of light and low solids
. concentration
Sludge's with high proportions of metal hydroxides are not as -
easily dewatered as are sludge's that have high proportions of
.other materials
In general ,settled iron sludge's have a higher solids concentration than alum-
.sludge's
The addition of polymers ,lime , or PAC increase the solids concentration of-
.both alum and iron sludge's
. Alum sludge is a voluminous gelatinous sludge with poor compressibility -
Solids concentration in a sedimentation depends on the design and operation-
. of the facility
.The density of sludge depends upon moisture content-
.Sludge viscosity and shear strength increase as solid concentration increases-
The volatile fraction of the suspended solids dose not reflect the organic-
. fraction
Ferric oxides are insoluble over a wider PH range than are aluminum-
. oxides
:Quantity

The quantity of solids produced in coagulation is dependent upon total

suspended solids in the water , on type and dose of coagulant , and on
the efficiency of the sedimentation basin .Generally , 60-90 percent of
. total solids are removed in the sedimentation basin
:Softening

Surface and ground waters containing high concentrations of calcium

. and magnesium are softened lime and soda –ash processes

:Physical and Chemical Quality

The PH of the sludge is typically high ( 10.5-11.5), and it is white-

. unless colored by turbidity or iron and manganese
.The calcium carbonate solid is more crystalline ,dense , and discrete-
The dewater ability of lime-softening sludge varies with amount of-
. magnesium hydroxide
:Quantity

The quantity of lime-softening sludge produced at water treatment plants

varies greatly , depending on the hardness of the water, The raw water
chemistry, The dosages of chemicals used , and the desired finished-water
. quality

:Filter Backwash

Filter backwash contains a large volume of water and a relatively

.small concentration solids ( 50 to 1000 mg-L )
:Physical and Chemical Quality

.The solids in filter backwash are similar to those in the sedimentation basin-
.The BOD , COD , and bacterial in filter backwash is high -
The chemical analysis of filter backwash solids reveals that aluminum and -
. silica oxides predominate
. Filter backwash solids typically are difficult to separate from the liquid-
Where direct filtration is used , the solids loading is a function of the-
. coagulant dosage and the raw water turbidity

:Quantity

The quantity of solids in filter backwash depends on the efficiency of the

filter and on the pretreatment ,will contain from 4 to 10 kg -10000
:Iron and Manganese Precipitation Sludge

Generally in small concentration in surface and groundwater , and

precipitated by oxidation with potassium permanganate, chlorine, or
. ozone .Oxidation and precipitation is also achieved by simple aeration

: Residues From Coagulant Aid

Clay such as bentonite , activated silica, and synthetic organic

polyelectrolytes or polymers are often added to some waters to provide
negatively charged particles to aid in coagulation and to increase sludge
. density
:RESIDUES FROM FILTER AID

Filter aid are generally synthetic organic polymers or metal salts

. similar to those used in coagulation processes

:Spent Powdered Activated Carbon ( PAC)

Powdered Activated Carbon is often added seasonally to reduce odor

problems , Therefore its impact upon the sludge quantity is also
. small
:Diatomaceous-Earth Filter Wash water

Generally, small water treatment plants use Diatomaceous-Earth Filter . The filter consists of
leaves or discs that are assembled inside a housing .The filter operation is composed of three
: cycles
. precoating -1
. filtering -2
. cleaning -3

:Spent Brine

The spent brine from the regeneration of ion-exchangers, or from a reverse osmosis unit,
from a special class of water treatment residues .The streams contain high concentrations of
soluble salts, Total dissolved solids may range from 15000 to 35000 mg-L .Major cations and
anions are sodium, potassium , calcium, magnesium , chloride , and sulfate , The volume of
.brine may range from 3 to 10 percent of the treated water
RESIDUALS PROCESSING
Residuals-management processes include
Thickening
conditioning
dewatering
drying
chemical recovery
and disposal
 THICKENING

The general purpose for thickening is to reduce the bulk of water

and to reduce the size of subsequent dewatering units. Thickening
is commonly achieved in sludge lagoons or gravity thickeners.
Dissolved air flotation is seldom used in water treatment
 A-LAGOONING

Lagoons are commonly used for thickening where 

land is available at the treatment plant site. They
function quite well when designed and operated as
thickeners
B-GRAVITY THICKENER

Gravity thickening is used to concentrate solids by 

decanting water. The decanted water is returned to
the raw water line, unless it has objectionable
excess taste- and odor-causing compounds and
microorganism
C-DISSOLVED AIR FLOTATION (DAF)

Dissolved air flotation has been used for the 

thickening of wastewater treatment sludges. In
water treatment, DAF has had limited
application
 CONDITIONING -2
Sludge conditioning is generally employed to aid in gravity 
thickening and mechanical dewatering. Conditioning is
achieved by: (1) freezing and thawing and (2) chemical
addition. In both cases, the physical and structural properties
of the sludge are improved. The gelatinous structure is
destroyed, water is released easily, and solids are compacted.
In colder climates, the sludge is allowed to freeze in lagoons
during winter months. After thawing in summer the sludge is
dewatered
 DEWATERING -3

 Dewatering of water treatment sludge is necessary to remove

moisture so that the sludge cake can be transported by truck to the
disposal site. Sludge-dewatering systems range from simple devices
to extremely complex mechanical processes. Simple devices involve
natural evaporation and percolation in earthen lagoons and drying
beds. Complex mechanical systems utilize conditioning and complex
processes, such as vacuum filters, filter presses, belt filters. on the
quantity and nature of the sludge and on the disposal methods. In
this section, various methods of sludge
 A-DRYING BEDS
 Drying beds consist of perforated under drain pipe, gravel,
and sand. The Sludge is applied in a depth ranging from 0.3
to 1 m. Greater sludge depths require longer drying times.
Solids concentration of from 15 to 30 percent can be attained
with alum sludges. The drying time may vary from three to
four days. Field tests must be conducted to develop design
information. Solids-loading rate can range from 100 to 300
kg of dry solids per m2 per year are attractive their low
capital cost and energy requirements
 B - LAGOON

 Lagoons for thickening, dewatering, and drying are used in

the United State These lagoons have decanting systems and
are designed to have sufficient filling and drying time.Three
months of filling and three months of drying time are most
common.Solids loading can range from 50 to 100 kg/m2 (10
to 20 lb/ft2) per year.For lagoon design, the net evaporation-
percolation rate should be used
 C - CENTRIFUGE

 The centrifuge uses centrifugal force to speed up the sedimentation rate

of 8 sludge solids. Sludge dewatering can be achieved by basket or
solid-bowl centrifuges. Basket centrifuges operate semi-continuously. In
a typical solid-bowl unit, the conditioned sludge is pumped into a
horizontal or cylindrical "bowl" rotating at 1600-2000 rpm. The solids
are spun to the outside of the bowl where they are scraped out by a screw
conveyor. The liquid or "centrate" is returned to a sump for treatment or
disposal.
D - VACUUM FILTER

Rotary vacuum filters are widely used for dewatering 

coagulation and softening sludges. Vacuum filters
consist of a cylindrical drum covered with cloth of
natural or synthetic fabric. The drum remains partly
.submerged in a vat of sludge and rotates slowly
PLATE AND FRAME FILTER PRESS
is a tool used in separation processes
specifically to separate solids and liquids. The process uses the
principle of pressure drive
The filter press is applicable for dewatering difficult sludges.
Metal hydroxide coagulated sludges are dewatered
satisfactorily. Batch operation allows extended filtration
time; typical cycle time is 8 hours.
BELT FILTER PRESS
Belt filter presses employ single or double moving belts to dewater
sludge continuously. The main advantages of. a belt filter press
are a drier cake, low power requirement, and continuous
operation. The main disadvantages are short media life and
filtration rate sensitive to incoming sludge .
The belt filtration process involves three basic operation stages.
I- chemical condition
2- gravity draining of excess water
3- compaction of prewatered sludge
RECOVERY OF CHEMICALS
Water treatment plant sludge has been studied for recovery and reuse of many chemicals Among these
are Iron, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium compounds.

 Iron and aluminum recovery can be accomplished by leaching the sludge with a strong acid
normally sulfuric acid.

 Separation of Mg and Ca from a sludge containing both is possible by recarbonation. The sludge from
the sedimentation process is transferred to a tank for recarbonation. Carbon dioxide is dispersed in the
diluted sludge to cause dissolution of magnesium hydroxide as magnesium bicarbonate (MgHC03).
The solids are separated in a thickener and MgHC03 is decanted and stored for recycling.
LAND DISPOSAL

 Land disposal of residuals is are governed by the Solid Waste Disposal

Act.(Pl91-512) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
(PI 94-580)
 These regulations require disposal of liquid or semi-liquid sludge on
specific types of landfills designated for such purposes.
DISCHARGE INTO SANITARY SEWER

Disposal of water treatment plant sludge into sanitary sewers is

becoming more common these days. Local pretreatment
guidelines generally cover the discharge requirements into the
sanitary sewers. Discharge of water treatment sludge into
sanitary sewers has a low cost, because the thickening and
dewatering steps may be eliminated.