•Wastewater treatment objectives are accomplished by
concentrating impurities into solid form and then separating
these solids from the bulk liquid….how can we achieve? •This concentration of solids, referred to as sludge, contains many objectionable materials and must be disposed of properly, Sludge disposal facilities usually represent 40 to 60 percent of the construction cost of wastewater-treatment plants. Sources of sludge Primary sedimentation tank Aeration basin or secondary clarifier Screening, grit chambers and grinder Filter backwash water The treatment processes have two primary objectives: (1) to reduce the volume of material to be handled by removal of some of the liquid portion, and (2) to decompose the highly putrescible organic matter to relatively stable or inert organic and inorganic compounds from which water will separate more readily. This is called digestion which causes a reduction in the total solids. Other secondary objectives are to utilize the generated gas if anaerobic digestion is selected as part of the sludge management strategy. In addition, an attempt should be made to sell/utilize the sludge as a soil conditioner rather than paying to dispose of it. The quantity and nature of sludge depends on the characteristics of the wastewater and on the nature and efficiencies of the treatment processes. Primary settling removes the settleable fraction of the raw wastewater solids, usually 40 to 60 percent of the influent solids. The quantity of these solids, on a dry mass basis, can be determined by the following equation. Mp = ηx SS x Q where M p = mass of primary solids, kg/d η = efficiency of primary clarifier SS = total suspended solids in effluent, kg/m3 and Q = flow rate, m 3/d Solids escaping primary settling are either solubilized or become entrained in the biomass during secondary treatment. Additional solids are generated by conversion of dissolved organics into cellular material. Secondary sludge is thus composed primarily of biological solids, the quantity of which can be estimated by the equation Ms = Y x BOD5 x Q Where Ms = mass of secondary solids, kg/d Y = biomass conversion factor: fraction of food (BOD5) incorporated into biomass, kg/kg BOD5 = BOD5 removed by secondary treatment, kg/m3 Q = flow rate, m3/d The organic content of both primary and secondary sludge is about 70 percent. Since the specific gravity of these organics is only slightly greater than 1, the unit mass of the sludge containing less than about 10% solids can be assumed to be equal to that of water without introducing significant error. The volume of wet sludge can therefore be approximated by the following equation: V= M/(ρw.S) Where V= volume of sludge produced, m3/d M= mass of dry solids, kg/d S= solids content expressed as a decimal fraction ρw= density of water, kg/m3 The processes involved in sludge treatment vary from simple gravity thickening to almost complete destruction of solids by incineration. Which process is selected to accomplish the design objectives depends on one or more of the following factors: Character of the sludge; raw, digested, or industrial. Land availability. Suitability of sludge for disposal by dilution. Local possibilities for using sludge as a soil conditioner or fertilizer. Climate. Capital and operating costs. Size and type of wastewater treatment plant. Proximity of the plant to residential areas and local air pollution control regulations. Sludge contains a high concentration of solids, but its water content is still high. Combined primary and secondary sludge from an activated sludge treatment plant contains about 2 % solids and hence 98 % water( One kg of dry sludge is associated with 49 L of water). Thickening to 5 % solids means one kg of dry solids is associated with 19L of water, thus 30 L of water has to be removed. Several techniques are available for volume reduction. a) Gravity Thickening Accomplished in circular sedimentation basins Degree of thickening: 2~5 times the incoming solids conc. Max. achevable solid concentration: < 10% Chemical and WAS are difficult to thicken under gravity..why? Type of Inf.Sol. Thickene Hl, Sl, Solids Overflow sludge conc., % d conc., m3/m2·d Kg/m2·d capt., % TSS, % mg/L
Primary 1-7 5-10 24-30 90-144 85-98 300-
1000 Trickling 1-4 2-6 2-6 35-50 80-92 200- Filter 1000 WAS 0.2-1.5 2-4 2-4 10-35 60-85 200- 1000 Combined 0.5-2 4-6 4-10 25-80 85-92 300- primary + WAS 1000 Gravity thickener side wall depth: 3 m (10 ft) Detention period: 24 hrs Hydraulic loading rate: 10~30 m3/m2·d The released air bubbles become attached to the suspended particles by one of the following mechanisms: Condensation Collision Primarily used to thicken the solids in chemical and WAS Separation of solids is achieved by introducing fine air bubbles created under pressure of several atmosphere into the liquid, attaching to solids to cause flotation of solids Degree of thickening: 2~8 times the incoming solids concentration Max. solids concentration: 4~5% Advantages of DAF Space requirements are minimal. Capability to treat a wide variety of organic and inorganic solids and dissolved waste streams. Low retention time from wastewater stream to effluent ejection. Superior clarification of most waste streams. Easy to clean and maintain. Higher density sludge with low water content. Installation cost is low The unit is typically delivered fully prefabricated. Normal concrete pad installation Dissolved Air Flotation Process Diagram Objective To reduce organic content and offensive odors in sludge 1. Stabilization < 50% VS for municipal sludge stable Raw sludge: 0.4~0.5 g BOD5/g VS Digested sludge: 0.2~0.25 g BOD5/g VS 2. O2 uptake rate < 1.5~2 mg O2/g VS/hr stable 3. Pathogen removal: E. coli, salmonella, etc. 4. Reduce sludge mass Methods Thermal stabilization Chemical digestion: lime stabilization Aerobic digestion: good for small to medium size wastewater treatment plants; energy intensive; poor settling; nitrification Anaerobic digestion: Good for medium to large size wastewater treatment plants; recovery of energy (CH4) A)Thermal stabilization: is a heat process by which the bound water of the sludge solids is released by heating the sludge for short periods of time. Exposing the sludge to heat and pressure breaks down the cell structure, coagulates the solids and reduces the hydration and hydrophilic (water loving) nature of the solids. The liquid portion of the sludge can then be separated from the solid by decanting and pressing. B)Chemical Stabilization Chemical stabilization is a process whereby the sludge matrix is treated with chemicals in different ways to stabilize the sludge solids. Lime stabilization: The lime stabilization process can be used to treat raw primary, waste activated, septage and anaerobically digested sludge. The process involves mixing a large enough quantity of lime with the sludge to increase the pH of the mixture to 12 or more. This normally reduces bacterial hazards and odor to a negligible value and provides satisfactory means of stabilizing the sludge prior to ultimate disposal. The purpose of digestion is to attain both of the objectives of sludge treatment -- a reduction in volume and the decomposition of highly putrescible organic matter to relatively stable or inert organic and inorganic compounds Types Aerobic Digestion Anaerobic Digestion a)Aerobic Digestion In aerobic digestion the microorganisms extend into the endogenous respiration phase, which is a phase where materials previously stored by the cell are oxidized, with a reduction in the biologically degradable organic matter. This organic matter, from the sludge cells is oxidized to carbon dioxide, water and ammonia. The ammonia is further converted to nitrates as the digestion process proceeds. Eventually, the oxygen uptake rate levels off and the sludge matter is reduced to inorganic matter and relatively stable volatile solids. Aerobic digestion tanks are normally not covered or heated, therefore, they are much cheaper to construct than covered, insulated, and heated anaerobic digestion tanks. In fact, an aerobic digestion tank can be considered to be a large open aeration tank. The advantages most often claimed for aerobic digestion are: A humus-like, biologically stable end product is produced. The stable end product has no odors, therefore, simple land disposal Aerobically digested sludge usually has good dewatering characteristics In comparison with anaerobic digestion, more of the sludge basic fertilizer values are recovered VS reduction similar to anaerobic digestion, Supernatant liquors from aerobic digestion have a lower BOD than those from anaerobic digestion. relatively easy operation, and lower capital cost Disadvantages: high power cost, Variable solids reduction efficiency with varying temperature changes. Sensitive to temp., location, and type of tank material, and loss of CH4 recovery potential. Process description C5H7NO2 + 7O2 5CO2 + NO3- + 3H2O + H+ Primary sludge: direct oxidation of organic matter Biological sludge: endogenous oxidation of the cell tissue Digestion is a microbiological process that converts the chemically complex organic sludge to methane, carbon dioxide, and inoffensive humus like material. The reactions occur in a closed tank or digester. Sludge digestion is carried out in the absence of free oxygen by anaerobic organisms. It is, therefore, anaerobic decomposition. The solid matter in raw sludge is about 70% organic and 30 % inorganic or mineral. Much of the water in wastewater sludge is "bound" water which will not separate from the sludge solids. The facultative and anaerobic organisms break down the complex molecular structure of these solids setting free the "bound" water and obtaining oxygen and food for their growth. Anaerobic digestion is a bacterial decomposition process that stabilizes organic wastes and produces a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide gas (biogas). The heat value of methane is the same as natural petroleum gas, and biogas is valuable as an energy source. Anaerobic digestion is usually carried out in a specially built digester, where the content is mixed and the digester maintained at 35oc by combusting the biogas produced. After digestion the sludge is passed to a sedimentation tank where the sludge is again thickened. Biogas is collected from the digester . The thickened sludge requires further treatment prior to reuse or disposal High degree of waste stabilization at high organic loading rates Very little sludge production (< 5% of biodegradable organic matter being converted to cell material) (10% of aerobic sludge production) Easy dewatering of the excess sludge Low nutrient requirement (10% of aerobic process requirement) No aeration equipment Methane production Long preservation of adapted sludge without feeding for more than a year Probably less sensitive to toxic compounds Low bacterial yield (prolonged periods of biomass build-up), thus requiring longer start-up period (8 to 12 weeks). Temperature sensitive Essentially a pretreatment process Characteristics Cell yield low (energy into CH4) Kr high 3~5 days min θc c at 35°C Needs 20 day θc in digester at 25°C The standard-rate digester volume is determined by loading rates, digestion period, solids reduction, and sludge storage. These are related by the following equations. V = (V1+V2) t2 +V2t2 2 Where V = volume of the digester, m 3 V1 = raw sludge loading rate; m3/d V2 = digested sludge accumulation rate, m3/d t1 = digestion period, d t2 = digested sludge storage period, d Dewatering aims to reduce the water content further so that the solids content of the sludge is about 20 % (equivalent to 1 kg dry sludge with 4 L of water). The sludge can then be handled like a solid. Dewatering can be done mechanically using a filter press (employing pressure). It can also be done using drying beds. A drying bed consists of a 30 cm bed of sand with under-drainage . Sludge is applied on the sand bed and is allowed to dry by evaporation and drainage of excess water over a period of several weeks depending on climatic conditions. Bacterial decomposition of the sludge takes place during the drying process while moisture content is sufficiently high. Final or ultimate disposal of sludge, which cannot be reused, is by land filling or incineration. sludge for land filling usually contains heavy metals or toxic chemicals, lining of the landfill with clay or plastic liner may be required to prevent contamination of groundwater. Incineration of sludge is by a multiple hearth furnace or fluidised bed furnace. Energy input is required to dry the sludge before combustion is self-sustaining. Combustion flue gases usually need treatment to meet air pollution control standards. Investment and operating costs are high 1