Simulation and assessment of sludge concentration and rheology in the process of waste activated sludge treatment

The process of using flat-sheet membrane for simultaneous sludge thickening and digestion （MSTD） was employed. The variations of sludge concentration and rheology were characterized and simulated. Based on mass balance analysis, mathematical models were developed and successfully used to predict and evaluate the variations of sludge concentration and the digestion efficiency in the MSTD process. The apparent viscosity of sludge could be modeled as functions of mixed liquor suspended solids and shear rates. The sludge in the MSTD process showed both shear-thinning and viscoplastic behaviour, and under various shear rates different rheological models could be chosen to predict their flow behaviour. It was also found that sludge concentration and viscosity had significant correlations with membrane fouling in the MSTD process.

Enhancement of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of thickened waste activated sludge by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment

Pretreatment of thickened waste activated sludge （TWAS） by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment （MAP） was studied to improve thermophilic anaerobic digestion efficiency. Uniform design was applied to determine the combination of target temperature （110-210°C）, microwave holding time （1-51 min）, and NaOH dose （0-2.5 g NaOH/g suspended solids （SS）） in terms of their effect on volatile suspended solids （VSS） solubilization. Maximum solubilization ratio （85.1%） of VSS was observed at 210°C with 0.2 g-NaOH/g-SS and 35 min holding time. The effects of 12 different pretreatment methods were investigated in 28 thermophilic batch reactors by monitoring cumulative methane production （CMP）. Improvements in methane production in the TWAS were directly related to the microwave and alkaline pretreatment of the sludge. The highest CMP was a 27% improvement over the control. In spite of the increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration and the decrease in dewaterability of digested sludge, a semi-continuous thermophilic reactor fed with pretreated TWAS without neutralization （at 170~C with 1 min holding time and 0.05 g NaOH/g SS） was stable and functioned well, with volatile solid （VS） and total chemical oxygen demand （TCOD） reductions of 28% and 18%, respectively, which were higher than those of the control system. Additionally, methane yields （L@STP/g-CODaded, at standard temperature and pressure （STP） conditions of 0°C and 101.325 kPa） and （L@STP/g VSadad） increased by 17% and 13%, respectively, comoared to the control reactor.

Simple model of sludge thickening process in secondary settlers

In wastewater treatment plants （WWTPs）, a secondary settler acts as a clarifier, sludge thickener, and sludge storage tank during peak flows and therefore plays an important role in the performance of the activated sludge process. Sludge thickening occurs in the lower portions of secondary clarifiers during their operation. In this study, by detecting the hindered zone from the complete thickening process of activated sludge, a simple model for the sludge thickening velocity, us = aXb （ a =0.9925SSFI3.5, b = - 3.5411n（ SS VI3.5 ） ＋12.973）, describing the potential and performance of activated sludge thickening in the hindered zone was developed. However, sludge thickening in the compression zone was not studied because sludge in the compression zone showed limited thickening. This empirical model was developed using batch settling data obtained from four WWTPs and validated using measured data from a fifth WWTP to better study sludge thickening. To explore different sludge settling and thickening mechanisms, the curves of sludge thickening and sludge settling were compared. Finally, it was found that several factors including temperature, stirring, initial depth, and polymer conditioning can lead to highly concentrated return sludge and biomass in a biologic reactor.

A hybrid membrane process for simultaneous thickening and digestion of waste activated sludge

A hybrid membrane process for simultaneous sludge thickening and digestion(MSTD)was studied.During one cycle(15 d)of operation under a hydraulic retention time of 1 d,the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids(MLSS)continuously increased from about 4 g·L^(–1)to 34 g·L^(–1),and the mixed liquor volatile suspended solids(MLVSS)increased from about 3 g·L^(–1)to over 22 g·L^(–1).About 42%of the MLVSS and 39%of the MLSS reduction were achieved.The thickening and digestion effects in the MSTD were further analyzed based on a mass balance analysis.Test results showed that biopolymers and cations of biomass were gradually released to the bulk solution during the process.It was also found that the capillary suction time,colloidal chemical oxygen demand,soluble microbial products,viscosity,and MLSS had significant positive correlations with the membrane fouling rate,whereas extracellular polymeric substances,polysaccharides,and proteins extracted from biomass had negative impacts on membrane fouling.

Sludge thickening in a wastewater treatment plant using a modified hydrocyclone

The main application of hydrocyclones in most industry sectors is the separation of particles from liquids.For thickening,however,the separation properties of the cyclone should be adjustable,which requires a different operating mode.Therefore,we investigated an add-on thickening module,consisting of a conical plug and a secondary vortex finder in the underflow of the hydrocyclone.Laboratory scale experiments are carried out to investigate the function of the concept of annular gap modification by the use of the thickening module.In the second step,we transferred this concept to industrial scale for field tests at a municipal wastewater treatment plant.In the field tests,geometrical properties(annular gap modification)and operational parameters(volume flow rate,sludge type)were investigated.The results show that thickening in terms of increasing the total solids content of sludge is possible with the modified hydrocyclone.In the field tests,a thickening factor(total solids content of thickened sludge related to feed sludge)of 1.31(average)was reached for digested sludge.Hence,a hydrocyclone could be a promising addition in wastewater treatment plants for dewatering of sludge.