Preparation and Bloating Mechanism of Porous Ultra-lightweight Ceramsite by Dehydrated Sewage Sludge and Yellow River Sediments

To solve the disposal problems of solid wastes, dehydrated sewage sludge and Yellow River sediments were tested as components for production of ultra-lightweight ceramsite. The effects of Yellow River sediments addition on the characteristics of ceramsite were investigated. Ceramsite with different Yellow River sediments additions was characterized using thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, morphological structures analyses, pore size distributions and porosity analyses. Chemical components, especially ratios of Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux, were used to explain the glassy shell formation, physical properties and pores distribution of ultralightweight ceramsite; physical forces for instance expansion force and frictional resistance which combined with Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux ratios were used to explain the bloating mechanism. Results showed that the maximum addition of Yellow River sediments for making ultra-lightweight ceramsite was 35%. Macropores（between 0.226 μm and 0.554 μm） of ultra-lightweight ceramsite were dominant in the pore structures of ultra-lightweight ceramsite and its porosity was up to 67.7%. Physical force of expansion force was constant with the variation of Yellow River sediments content and physical force of frictional resistance was decreased with the increase of Yellow River sediments addition. The relationship between expansion and frictional resistance could determine the expansion rate of ceramsite. Larger pores inside the ceramsite bodies could be obtained as Yellow River sediments additions ranged from 10% to 30%. Ceramsite with higher Yellow River sediments additions of 40%（Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux ratios 4.25） became denser and have lower porosity. Crystal components analysis proved that the sintering process made some components of raw materials transfer into other crystals having better thermostability.

Impact of Untreated Sedimentation Tank Sludge Water Recycle on Water Quality During Treatment of Low Turbidity Water

The overall purpose of this research is to examine the impact of untreated sedimentation tank sludge water( USTSW) recycle on water quality during treatment of low turbidity water in coagulation—sedimentation processes. 950 m L of raw water and different concentrations of 50 m L USTSW are injected into six 1 000 m L beakers without coagulant.The results indicate that USTSW characterized as accumulated suspended solids and organic matter has active ingredients,which possess the equivalent function of coagulant. The optimal blended water turbidity is in the range of 10-20 NTU,within which USTSW recycle achieves the highest save coagulant rate. The mechanism of strengthening coagulation effect when USTSW recycle mainly depends on the chemical effect and physical effect. What is more,through scanning electron microscopy( SEM),it is found that the floc structures with USTSW recycle are more compact than those without USTSW recycle. Besides,the water quality parameters of color,NH3-N,CODMn,UV254,total aluminum,total manganese when USTSW recycle is better than the raw water without recycle,indicating that USTSW recycle can improve water quality with strengthening coagulation effect.

Effects of sludge dredging on the prevention and control of algae-caused black bloom in Taihu Lake,China

Algae-caused black bloom （also known as black water agglomerate） has recently become a critical problem in some Chinese lakes.It has been suggested that the occurrence of algae-caused black bloom was caused by the cooperation of nutrient-rich sediment with dead algae,and sludge dredging was adopted to control black bloom in some lakes of China.In this article,based on the simulation of black bloom using a Y-shape apparatus for modeling natural conditions,both un-dredged and dredged sites in three areas of Taihu Lake,China were studied to estimate the effects of dredging on the prevention and control of black bloom.During the experiment,drained algae were added to all six sites as an additional organic load;subsequently,the dissolved oxygen decreased rapidly,dropping to 0 mg/L at the sediment-water interface.Black bloom did not occur in the dredged sites of Moon Bay and Nan Quan,whereas all three un-dredged sites at Fudu Port,Moon Bay and Nan Quan experienced black bloom.Black bloom also occurred at the dredged site of Fudu Port one day later than at the other sites,and the odor and color were lighter than at the other locations.The color and odor of the black water mainly result from the presence of sulfides such as metal sulfides and hydrogen sulfide,among other chemicals,under reductive conditions.The color and odor of the water,together with the high concentrations of nutrients,were mainly caused by the decomposition of the algae and the presence of nutrient-rich sediment.Overall,the removal of the nutrient-rich sediment by dredging can prevent the occurrence and control the degree of algae-caused black bloom in Taihu Lake.