TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

OF SLUDGES
Characteristic of sludge: Overview
 Preliminary operations (grinding, screening, degritting, blending)

Gravity
Thickening
DAF
or Concentration
Gravity Belt Centrifugal

Stabilization
Alkaline Automatic aerobic
Aerobic Anaerobic stabilization digestion Composting

Chemical
Conditioning Heat

Centrifugal Vacuum filtrationDewatering

Pressure filtration Drying bed Heat Drying

Oxidation
Incineration: Multiple hearth incineration, Fluidized bed incineration Wet oxidation

Application of biosolids to the land

Land application Dedicated land disposal Land filling
Thickening of sludge

Gravity Thickening
Thickening of sludge

Dissolved Air Floatation

Thickening of sludge

Gravity Belt
Thickening of sludge

Centrifugal Thickening
 Stabilization of Sludge

Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic

Digester
 Stabilization of sludge
Anaerobic digestion
 During the process a mixture of gas called ‘biogas’ is produced.
 Biogas is a mixture of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
 Hydrogen sulphide, water, and numerous trace gasses are also
present in smaller amounts.
 The biogas production ranges from 50-150 m3/tonne of wastes,
depending upon the composition of waste.
Aerobic and anaerobic digester
The biochemistry of Anaerobic digestion
 Stabilization of sludge
Composting
“Composting is the biological decomposition of the
biodegradable organic fraction of MSW under controlled
conditions to a state sufficiently stable for nuisance-free
storage and handling and for safe use in land applications”
Source: (Golueke et al., 1955; Golueke, 1972; Diaz et al.,
1993)
 Design Considerations
Particle size : 25 to 75 mm
Seeding mixing : To reduce composting time, seed with 1-5%
decomposed solid wastes. Add sewage sludge also
Mixing / turning : Mixed or turned on a regular schedule
Air requirements : At least 50% of initial oxygen concentration
Moisture content : 50 to 60%
Temperature : 50 to 550C for first few days, 55 to 600 for rest
period. > 600C adversely affected biological activity
Carbon–nitrogen ratio : 30 to 50
if C/N < 30, ammonia formation
if C/N > 50, N is limiting nutrient

pH : < 8.5, at 8.5 N is lost as NH3

Control of pathogen : Maintaining 60-700C for 24 hours kills pathogens,
weeds, seeds etc
 Natural Controlled
Breakdown happened
mechanically
Breakdown happened by
 When Compost is finished?
 Maturity  Stability
o Temperature ≈ ambient
o degree of humification
o Oxygen concentration (>10-
15%)
Benefit of Composting
Types of Composting
 Conditioning

• It improves the drainability of digested sludge.

• It is more amenable to dewatering.
• It can be achieved by various method such as
elutriation, chemical conditioning, heat treatment,
freezing etc.
• Usually involve prolong storage – large process
buffer tank or clarification basins
• It is undertaken before sludge dewatering
 Dewatering
 It is a physical unit operation used to reduced the moisture
content of sludge and biosolids.
 Various methods used in dewatering device for removing
moisture can be categorized under:
A. Mechanical dewatering devices(faster artificial ways):
vacuum filtration, pressure filtration, centrifugation.
B. Physical devices (slow natural ways): Drying beds,
drying lagoons, heat drying.
 The selection of dewatering device is determined by the type of
sludge to be dewatered, characteristic of the dewatered
product and the space available.
 Reasons for Dewatering
1. The cost for trucking sludge and biosolid to the ultimate disposal sites
become substantial lower when the volume is reduced by dewatering.
2. Dewatered sludge and biosolids are generally easier to handle than
thickened or liquid sludge.
3. Dewatered is required generally prior to the incineration of the sludge
to increase the calorific value by removal of excess moisture.
4. Dewatering is required before composting to reduce the requirements
for supplemental bulking agents or amendments.
5. In some cases, removal of excess moisture may be required to render
biosolids odorless and non-putrescible.
6. Dewatering is required prior to land filling sludge and biosolids in
monofills to reduce lechate production at the landfill site.
Dewatering of sludge
Rotary vacuum filtration
Dewatering of Sludge

Pressure Filtration
Dewatering of Sludge

Sludge drying bed

 Potential Sludge-to-Energy Recovery Routes

Energies 2019, 12, 60; doi:10.3390/en12010060

 Types of Thermochemical Conversions
Drying Pyrolysis Gasification Incineration

Temp. <100 °C 300-600 °C

Air, O2 No (λ = 0)

Retention 1 sec (f.p.)

Time 1 day
(s.p.)
Char (25-28 Bio-oil (25- Gas (13-
MJ/kg) 28 MJ/kg) 14 Heat
Fast Pyrolysis 12% 75% MJ/Nm
13% 3
)
(pyrogas)
>280 °C the reaction
is exothermic
Slow Pyrolysis 35% 30% 35% (pyrogas)
 Drying Pyrolysis Gasification Incineration

Temp. <100 °C 300-600 °C >750 °C

Air, O2 No (λ = 0) Yes (λ = 0.2-0.5)

Retention 1 sec (f.p.)

sec to min
Time 1 day
(s.p.)
85% syngas or
producer gas
10% 5% CO, CO2, H2,
CH4
Char (25-28 MJ/kg) Bio-oil 25-28 MJ/kg Gas (13-14 MJ/Nm3) Heat
 Drying Pyrolysis Gasification Incineration

Temp. <100 °C 300-600 °C >750 °C >700 °C

Air, O2 No (λ = 0) Yes (λ = 0.2-0.5) Yes (λ = 1.0)

Retention 1 sec (f.p.)

sec to min min to hr
Time 1 day
(s.p.)

CO2, H2O
and other +Ashes

Char Bio-oil Gas Heat

 Incineration

Various methods for incineration

1. Multiple hearth incineration

2. Fluidized bed incineration
3. Co-incineration with multiple solid base.
 Multiple hearth incineration
 This is mainly used in big plants.
The shaft speed is usually 0.3 to
0.5 rpm
 Normally 50 to 100 percent extra
air is required for complete
combustion of the biosolid
 The retntion time of bisolid in
multiple hearth is generally 0.5 to
3 hours
 A sludge depth of about 1 inch is
maintained in each hearth at the
design sludge flow rate
 Fluidized bed incineration
 The fluidized bed incinerator ranges in size
from 2.7 to 7.6 m in diameter.
 The sand bed when quiescent, is
approximately 0.8 m thick and rests on a brick
dome or refractory lined grid.
 Sludge is mixed quickly within the fluidized
bed by turbulent action of the bed .
 The minimum temperature needed in the sand
bed prior to injection of sludge is
approximately 700°C and the temperature of
the bed is controlled between 760°C to 925°C
 Biosolid residence times are typically 1 to 5
750 - 925°C
mins
 Typically, FBCs can achieve complete 0.75 m
combustion with 20 to 50 percent excess air,
about half the excess air required by multiple
hearth furnaces. @ 20 – 30
KPa
 Land application of biosolids
 Land application of biosolids is defined as the spreading of
biosolids on or just below the soil surface.
 Biosolids may be applied to, a) agricultural land, b) forest
land, c) disturbed land, and d) dedicated land disposal sites.
 In all the four cases the land application is designed with the
objective of providing further biosolids treatment.
 Sunlight, soil microorganism, and desiccation combine to
destroy pathogens and many toxic organic substances.
 The application of biosolids to land for agricultural purposes
is beneficial because organic matter improves soil structure,
tilth, water holding capacity, water infiltration, and soil
aeration, and macronutrients and micronutrients aid plant
growth.
 Land application of biosolids

 The presence of organic matter improve the biological

diversity in soil and improve the availability of nutrients to
plants.
 Land application can also be great value in silviculture and
site reclamation. Forest utilization has been practiced
extensively and biosolids application has been recognized
as being beneficial to forest growth.
 Reclamation of disturbed land such as superfund sites has
also been successful.
Different types of wastewater reuse & disposal
The proper disposal of treatment plant effluent or reuse requirements is
an essential part of planning and designing wastewater treatment
facilities. Different methods of ultimate disposal of secondary effluents
are discussed as follows.
a) Natural Evaporation
b) Groundwater Recharge
c) Irrigation
d) Recreational Lakes
e) Aquaculture
f) Municipal Uses
g) Industrial Uses
h) Discharge into Natural Waters
 Categories of municipal wastewater reuse and
potential issues/constraints
Categories Issues/Constraints
Agricultural • Surface and groundwater contamination if not managed properly
irrigation • Marketability of crops and public acceptances
Landscape • Effect of water quality, particularly salts, on soil and crops
irrigation • Public health concerns related to pathogens (bacteria, viruses etc.)
• Use area control including buffer zone may result in high user costs.

Industrial • Constituents in reclaimed water related to scaling, corrosion,

recycling and biological growth, and fouling.
reuse • Public health concerns, particularly aerosol transmission of
pathogens in cooling water (Legionnaire’s disease)
• Cross connection of potable and reclaimed water
Groundwater • Possible contamination of groundwater aquifer used as a source of
recharge potable aquifer
• Organic chemicals in reclaimed water and their toxicological effects
• Total dissolved solids, nitrates, and pathogens in reclaimed water
Categories of municipal wastewater reuse and
potential issues/constraints
Categories Issues/Constraints
Recreational/ • Health concerns related to presence of bacteria and viruses
environmental • Eutrophication due to nitrogen and phosphorus in receiving
use water
• Toxicity to aquatic life
Non-potable • Public health concerns about pathogens transmitted by
urban use aerosols
• Effects of water quality on scaling, corrosion, biological growth,
and fouling
• Cross connection of potable and reclaimed water lines
Potable reuse • Constituents in reclaimed water, especially trace organic
chemicals and their toxicological effects.
•Aesthetic and public acceptances
• Health concerns about pathogens transmission, particularly
enteric viruses.
 General standard for discharge of Environmental
Pollutants (CPCB)
Parameters Inland surface Public sewer Land for Marine coastal area
water irrigation
BOD (mg/L) 30 350 100 100
COD (mg/L) 250 --- --- 250
TSS (mg/L) 100 600 200 a) For process waste water-100
b) for cooling water effluent
10% above the influent TSS

Phosphate (mg/L) 5.0 --- ---

Ammonia (mg/L) 5.0 --- ---
pH 5.5-9.0 5.5-9.0 5.5-9.0 5.5-9.0
Temperature not exceed more not exceed more Shall not exceed Shall not exceed more than 5°
than 5° C of the than 5° C of the more than 5° C of C of the receiving water temp
receiving water receiving water the receiving
temp water temp
Particle size of Shall pass 850 a) Floatable solid-max 3 mm
suspended solids micron IS sieve b) Settle able solid-max 850
micron
Oil & Grease (mg/L) 10 20 10 20
Environment (Protection) Rule, 1986 [Pollution Control Law, 6th Edition, 2010, pp. 545]
 Disposal into Lakes

In locations where nearby streams are not

available, it may be necessary to discharge
treated wastewater into lakes or reservoirs.
Lakes and reservoirs are often subjected to
significant mixing due to wind induced currents.
 Stratification in Large Lakes

 Water such as lake is called stratified. , when mixing

in a water body is incomplete, allowing two or more
distinct layers to developed for a considerable period.
Stratification can occur with temperature or salinity,
and the stratification can be vertical or horizontal
 Stratification of lakes is the result of an increased in
water density with depth caused by a decreased in
temperature. The maximum density occurs at 40C.
 Three Zones of Stratified Lake

1.Epilimnion -- maybe 8-12 ft deep and

fairly uniform in temperature
because of mixing by wind action.
2.Thermocline (Metalimnion)-- is a
zone of significant temperature
changes and is extremely resistant
to mixing.
3. Hypolimnion -- The lower layers in a
body of water which are marked by
low temperatures and insufficient
light for photosynthesis. Levels of
dissolved oxygen are low.
 Eutrophication in Large Lakes

Eutrophication is characterized
by an abundant accumulation of
nutrients that support a dense
growth of algae and other
organisms, the decay of which
depletes the shallow waters of
oxygen in summer.
Eutrophication in large lakes
Eutrophication process in 6 stages
ADDITION OF NITRATES AND PHOSPHATES

GROWTH OF PLANTS

DEATH OF PLANTS

GROWTH OF BACTERIA

LACK OF OXYGEN

SUFFOCATION
Three tropic states in lakes
 Causes of eutrophication
Eutrophication is a major pollution problem in lake ecosystem
worldwide. The major causes of eutrophication are :

A. Excess nutrients that enter bodies of water come form the

sewage plant.

B. The use of detergent that contain phosphate greatly

increases the quantity of phosphate entering the water
bodies.

C. Nitrates comes from the fertilizers and automobile exhaust

which enters the water body through rain and snow .
 Effects of Eutrophication
Ecological impacts: Of critical concern is the impact of eutrophication on
biodiversity

Aesthetic impacts: Algal and cyanobacterial blooms, and particularly

surface scums that might form, are unsightly and can have unpleasant odours.
If the water is being used for water treatment purposes, various taste and
odour problems can occur.

Human health impacts: An infestation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia

crassipes) can be a health hazard. It can provide an ideal breeding habitat for
mosquito larvae and it can protect the snail vector of bilharzia

Recreational impacts: The existence of large areas of macrophytes can

inhibit or prevent access to waterways. This decreases the fitness for use of
the water for water sports such as skiing, yachting and fishing.

Economic impacts: Nearly all of the above mentioned impacts have direct or
indirect economic impacts.

http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/eutrophication/NEMP/02Eutrophication.pdf
 Disposal into Rivers

Rivers are subjected to natural pollution as they serve as

drainage channels for large areas of the countryside.
Rivers are capable of absorbing some pollution caused
by humans, as they posses the ability to purify
themselves through the action of living organism .
Point and non-point source pollution
Dissolved oxygen in Water
 The oxygen in rivers depleted by the
following two processes.
1.The bacterial oxidation of organic matter.
2. The oxygen demand of sludge and benthic
deposits.
 Point source Dilution
 
Dissolved Oxygen Sag Curve
Effect of Organic Wastes on Stream
Ecosystems
• Streeter-Phelps Model – DO sag curve 
– Many equations and computer programs are available today
to describe the quality of water in streams, rivers and lakes
– The most prevalent is the Streeter Phelps equation.
– Addition of wastewater (BOD) typically causes a decrease in
O2, followed by a gradual increase close to the dissolved
oxygen (D.O.) saturation concentration (re-aeration)
– The equation was derived by Streeter and Phelps in 1925,
based on field data from the Ohio River. The equation is also
known as the DO sag equation.
 Dissolved Oxygen Sag Curve

𝒌𝟏 𝑩𝑶𝑫 − 𝒌 𝒕
𝑫= ( 𝒆 − 𝒆− 𝒌 𝒕 ) + 𝑫𝟎 𝒆− 𝒌
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
𝒕

𝒌𝟐 − 𝒌𝟏

𝑫 𝒄=
( )
𝒌𝟏
𝒌𝟐
𝑩𝑶𝑫 𝒆
−𝒌 𝟏 𝒕𝒄

𝒕𝒄 =
𝟏
𝒌𝟐 −𝒌𝟏
ln
{
𝑘2
𝑘1
[1 −
𝐷0 ( 𝑘2 − 𝑘1 )
𝑘1 𝐵𝑂𝐷
]
}