Sludge dewatering

Wolfgang Stump
ko-control GmbH; Burgwall 13a;
D 39128 Schnebeck
Telephone: +49 (0)3928/42738; Fax: 42739
E-Mail: wolfgang.stump@oeko-control.com

Sludge dewatering

Outline:
1) The method of sludge dewatering
1a) Natural method
1b) Artificial methods
2) Need for (mobile) sludge dewatering

3) Problems with the (mobile) sludge dewatering

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Steps

Treatment

Effective by

Individual processes

1. Step

thickening

gravitation

continuous or
discontinuous operated
thickener

2. Step

dewatering

gravitation
evaporation

sludge basin
sludge drying bed
sludge lagoon

3. Step

drying

thermic forces

sludge drying bed

(only in warm regions)

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Sludge lagoon

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Sludge basins
a nightmare for mobile sludge dewatering

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Construction of a dry reed bed

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Reed bed

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Reed bed (gras)

Sludge dewatering
1a) Natural methods of sludge dewatering

Site clearance of a dry reed bed (reed)

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Steps

Treatment

Effective by

Individual processes

1. Step

thickening

gravitation

continuous or
discontinuous operated
thickener

2. Step

dewatering

static methods
(Pressure differences
compared to the
atmosphere by low or high
pressure in the machine
dynamic process
Gravity (artificial gravity
field)

static methods
Vacuum filtration,
Belt filter presses
(Over) pressure
filtration
dynamic process
Centrifuges /
Decanters

3. Step

drying

Thermic forces

dryers / dehydrators
(any sort / type)

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Static thickener operated with moving turbid water pump or

with float and suction pipe

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Sludge storage with sample line for liquid removal

or connection for mobile dewatering; mobile belt filter press

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Stationary belt filter press

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Mobile Chamber Filter Press

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Filter cake from a chamber filter press

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Sludge storage and mobile decanter centrifuge with sludge storage

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Decanter centrifuge

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Stationary decanter centrifuge and sludge storage

Sludge dewatering
1b) Artificial methods of sludge dewatering

Sludge transport

Sludge dewatering
2.) Necessity of (mobile) sludge dewatering

The only way for recycling of liquid sewage is the agricultural use
- Conservation of resources for society (savings of landfill space) and for agriculture
(replacement of mineral fertilizers)
- Recycling of organic matter and nutrients in agriculture as recycling process
corresponds to the cycle principle
- Agricultural use is a process with long-term experience on a secure legal and
scientific basis
- Recycling in agriculture is, in comparison to other means of disposal, a cost-efficient
solution
- Efficient organization and qualified service providers enable effective monitoring for
low-risk agricultural recycling

Sludge dewatering
2.) Necessity of (mobile) sludge dewatering

The only way for recycling of liquid sewage is the agricultural use
Theses against the use of sewage sludge in agriculture:
- Risk of pollutant dispersion and enrichment in the environment and in the food chain
- Significant exposure to viruses, bacteria and hormones

- Through coincineration of sewage sludge fossil resources can be replaced

- Phosphorus compounds are, by additives in wastewater treatment, often not
available in the soil

Sludge dewatering
2.) Necessity of (mobile) sludge dewatering

The only way for recycling of liquid sewage is the agricultural use
The agricultural use is not always possible:
- High pollution load of the sewage sludge (exceedances of limits for metals, trace
organic substances)
- Acceptance problems among farmers and businesses in the food industry
- Adequate supply of nutrients in the soil - no / low fertilizer requirements
- No sewage sludge application during the growing season (just after harvest and
before sowing)

Sludge dewatering
2.) Necessity of (mobile) sludge dewatering

Any other recycling method for sewage sludge requires a solid state
of the sludge
- Composting
- Landscaping and reclamation
- Landfilling (banned in Germany)
- Combustion (coincineration or mono incineration)

Sludge dewatering
3.) Problems of the (mobile) sludge dewatering

Depending on the type of sludge and the wastewater and sludge

treatment sludge can be dewatered good or bad
Factors:
- dry solids, organic content
- pH and organic acids
- fats / lipophilic substances
- sediment content, grain size
- binding forms of water to the sludge flocs

Sludge dewatering
3.) Problems of the (mobile) sludge dewatering
In order to separate the sludge from the water well,
flocculants e.g. organic polymers are added
- Flocculants to improve the separation of sludge and water
- Goal: high dry matters of the dewatered sludge and "clean"
sludge water (centrate, filtrate)

- the use of flocculants must be optimized; different sewage

sludges and fluctuating characteristics of the sludge require
different substances

Sludge dewatering
3.) Problems of the (mobile) sludge dewatering

Dewatered sludge is to be recycled as soon as

possible.

Sludge dewatering
3.) Problems of the (mobile) sludge dewatering
The sludge water (centrate, filtrate) is recycled to the wastewater
treatment plant inlet and generates a high return of the plant load
- sludge water has high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen
and ammonium nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended solids
- small WWTP often do not have the capacity of co-treatment of the sludge water

- private companies for mobile sludge dewatering are interested in a high throughput
and produce sometimes significant impact loads for the WWTP

Sludge dewatering
3.) Problems of the (mobile) sludge dewatering

Concentrations in sludge water and municipal wastewater

parameter

sludge water
minimum
mg/l

sludge water
maximum
mg/l

Municipal wastewater average

mg/l

CSB

400

8.000

500

BSB5

200

6.000

250

Nges

150

1.600

55

NH4-N

100

1.200

45

Pges

20

200

Sludge dewatering
4.) Conclusion and Summary
Sludge dewatering increases the possibilities of sludge disposal
and reduces the cost at a reasonable cost
Opportunities:
- Profit from disposal of sewage sludge safety
- Saving of transport costs
- Reduce the amount to be disposed of

Risks
- Charge back to the wastewater treatment plant through sludge water
- Cost factor for sludge dewatering

Sludge dewatering
4.) Conclusion and Summary
Notes from the field

- for smaller WWTP: Set quality criteria and dicharge load limit for sludge water
- accounting basis should be the tonnage of the dewatered sludge
- the dry solids content of the raw sludge and the dewatered sludge should be fixed in
a contract
- parallel provisions of the drainer and operator of the system in the dry matter
content
- limit the amount of daily sludge to be dewatered

Sludge dewatering
4.) Conclusion and Summary

Thank you for your attention

and I look forward to your questions.

Wolfgang Stump
ko-control GmbH Schnebeck
Phone: +49 (0)3928 / 42738