Disinfection Processes and Stability Refinements to Biosolids Treatment Technologies
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 12, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper reviews the current United States sewage sludge disinfection regulations and their associated practices; discusses the limitations of the practices; the criteria employed in evaluating a new (innovative or alternative) disinfection process, and notes both some processes recently evaluated and ones evaluated. The United States regulations are designed to protect human health by minimizing the contact of humans with pathogenic microorganisms. Two types of disinfection processes are employed. Processes like pasteurization are employed to reduce pathogens below their analytical detection limits, while processes like anaerobic digestion are combined with requirements for organic matter reduction and access restrictions. Issues with the present disinfection alternatives such as their only being concerned with the presence or absence of certain pathogens like enteric viruses or Ascaris sp. are discussed and remedies suggested. Similarly, several of the current options for measuring vector attractiveness (stability) such as volatile solids reduction are in need of improvement. Work is underway to evaluate bacterial enzymatic activity and biochemical oxygen demand as possible measures of vector attractiveness. Innovative and alternative methods for disinfection are frequently proposed and it is important to understand how the stressors employed by the process contribute to its reduction of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites. For example with an alkaline disinfection process it may be possible to utilize the beneficial effects of time, temperature, pH, chemical agents like ammonia, and pressure. A two-phase and batch thermophilic anaerobic digestion system, however, is able to utilize the benefits of high temperature, high levels of volatile fatty acids, and free ammonia to accomplish a large reduction of pathogens. Vermicomposting and a process that uses a fumigant are currently under evaluation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and briefly discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The writers appreciate the assistance of Mr. Bob Boston of Biosolids Distribution Services, LLC. in Houston, Tex.; Fred Mussari of BioChem Resources in St. Augustine, Fla.; and Joe Adamik and Bruno Ferran of Infilco Degremont, Inc. in Richmond, Va. The opinions or views expressed in this paper are those of the writers and should not be construed as opinions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 12 • Issue 1 • January 2008
Pages: 10 - 17
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2007
Accepted: May 18, 2007
Published online: Jan 1, 2008
Published in print: Jan 2008
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