Comparison of Dewatering Effects of Chemical Conditioning Method for Thermophilic and Mesophilic Anaerobic Digested Sewages Sludge
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 10
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion is the most prevalent stabilization method used in treating waste activated sludge. However, the digested sludge produced has always been difficult to dehydrate. In this study, mesophilic anaerobic digested sludge and thermophilic anaerobic digested sludge were used to compare the dewatering capacity of two chemical coagulants: high-performance polyaluminum chloride (HPAC) and . For mesophilic anaerobic digestion, 5% g/g total suspended solids (TSS) was the optimal dose of and HPAC to improve dewaterability. In addition, HPAC was superior to ferric chloride in the removal of loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS) and tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS). For thermophilic anaerobic sludge, HPAC is more effective compared with in improving the dewaterability. could effectively remove TB-EPS, while HPAC had better removal efficiency on soluble extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS) and LB-EPS. Both chemical coagulants have greater potential to degrade EPS during thermophilic anaerobic digestion sludge treatment. The results of the supernatants characterization after conditioning illustrated that and HPAC have similar removal efficiency on organic matter, but HPAC could remove additional small molecular weight compounds, particularly when conditioning with the thermophilic anaerobic sludge; however, there was no apparent changes when using .
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China (Grant No. 51708005), and the Key Programs of Beijing Polytechnic (Nos. 2020Z003-KXZ, and 2017Z005-009-KXB).
References
Cao, B., W. Zhang, Q. Wang, Y. Huang, C. Meng, and D. Wang. 2016. “Wastewater sludge dewaterability enhancement using hydroxyl aluminum conditioning: Role of aluminum speciation.” Water Res. 105 (Nov): 615–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.09.016.
Chen, Q. 2018. “British sludge treatment & disposal and its enlightenment to China.” China Munic. Eng. 18 (1): 33–35.
Chen, W., P. Westerhoff, J. A. Leenheer, and K. Booksh. 2003. “Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix regional integration to quantify spectra for dissolved organic matter.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 37 (24): 5701–5710. https://doi.org/10.1021/es034354c.
Chen, Z., W. Zhang, D. Wang, T. Ma, R. Bai, and D. Yu. 2016. “Enhancement of waste activated sludge dewaterability using calcium peroxide pre-oxidation and chemical re-flocculation.” Water Res. 103 (Oct): 170–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.07.018.
De la Rubia, M. A., V. Riau, F. Raposo, and R. Borja. 2013. “Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: Focus on the influence of the start-up. A review.” Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 33 (4): 448–460. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388551.2012.726962.
Feng, X., J. Wan, J. Deng, X. Yue, Y. Yang, Z. He, and Y. Long. 2022. “Study on the regulation of sludge dewatering by hydrophobically associating cationic polyacrylamide coupled with framework materials.” J. Water Process Eng. 45 (Feb): 102502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102502.
Gao, H. X., L. X. Tian, Y. F. Wang, T. T. Zhu, Y. D. Tong, and Y. W. Liu. 2022. “Improved methane production from the two-phase anaerobic digestion and dewaterability of anaerobically digested sludge by -cyclodextrin pretreatment.” J. Cleaner Prod. 363 (Aug): 132484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132484.
Hao, W. B., T. Gao, W. S. Shi, M. X. Zhao, Z. X. Huang, H. Y. Ren, and W. Q. Ruan. 2022. “Coagulation removal of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in nanofiltration concentrate of biologically treated landfill leachate by ZrCl4: Performance, mechanism and coagulant recycling.” Chemosphere 301 (Aug): 134768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134768.
Kang, S., Z. Xu, Y. Liu, G. J. Xie, D. Wang, T. Zhang, C. Liu, L. Peng, B. Zhou, and Q. Wang. 2016. “Improving dewaterability of anaerobically digested sludge by combination of persulfate and zero valent iron.” Chem. Eng. J. 295 (Jul): 436–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.03.064.
Kelessidis, A., and A. S. Stasinakis. 2012. “Comparative study of the methods used for treatment and final disposal of sewage sludge in European countries.” Waste Manage. 32 (6): 1186–1195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.01.012.
Labatut, R. A., L. T. Angenent, and N. R. Scott. 2014. “Conventional mesophilic vs. thermophilic anaerobic digestion: A trade-off between performance and stability?” Water Res. 53 (Apr): 249–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2014.01.035.
Li, X., S. Guo, Y. Peng, Y. He, S. Wang, L. Li, and M. Zhao. 2018. “Anaerobic digestion using ultrasound as pretreatment approach: Changes in waste activated sludge, anaerobic digestion performances and digestive microbial populations.” Biochem. Eng. J. 139 (Nov): 139–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2017.11.009.
Liu, Y. A., Y. Tian, Q. Ma, and O. Huang. 2018. “Engineering design and optimization of Beijing Gaoyantun sludge treatment center.” Water Wastewater Eng. 54 (8): 38–41.
Manzoor, K., S. J. Khan, M. Yasmeen, Y. Jamal, and M. Arshad. 2022. “Assessment of anaerobic membrane distillation bioreactor hybrid system at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures treating textile wastewater.” J. Water Process Eng. 46 (Apr): 102603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.102603.
Niu, M. Q., W. J. Zhang, D. S. Wang, Y. Chen, and R. L. Chen. 2013. “Correlation of physicochemical properties and sludge dewaterability under chemical conditioning using inorganic coagulants.” Bioresour. Technol. 144 (Sep): 337–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.06.126.
Song, Y. C., S. J. Kwon, and J. H. Woo. 2004. “Mesophilic and thermophilic temperature co-phase anaerobic digestion compared with single-stage mesophilic- and thermophilic digestion of sewage sludge.” Water Res. 38 (7): 1653–1662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003.12.019.
Suhartini, S., S. Heaven, and C. J. Banks. 2014. “Comparison of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sugar beet pulp: Performance, dewaterability and foam control.” Bioresour. Technol. 152 (Jan): 202–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.11.010.
Wang, D., L. Xing, J. Xie, C. W. Chow, Z. Xu, Y. Zhao, and M. Drikas. 2010. “Application of advanced characterization techniques to assess DOM treatability of micro-polluted and un-polluted drinking source waters in China.” Chemosphere 81 (1): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.07.013.
Wang, Q., W. Zhang, Z. Yang, Q. Xu, P. Yang, and D. Wang. 2018. “Enhancement of anaerobic digestion sludge dewatering performance using in-situ crystallization in combination with cationic organic polymers flocculation.” Water Res. 146 (Dec): 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.09.015.
Xiao, K., Y. Chen, X. Jiang, V. K. Tyagi, and Y. Zhou. 2016. “Characterization of key organic compounds affecting sludge dewaterability during ultrasonication and acidification treatments.” Water Res. 105 (Nov): 470–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.09.030.
Xu, Y., S. S. Chen, B. Dong, D. H. Yang, and X. H. Dai. 2018. “Research progress in the enzymatic treatment enhancement of sludge anaerobic digestion efficiency and dewatering capability.” [In Chinese.] Ind. Water Treat. 38 (3): 6–11.
Yang, P., D. Li, W. Zhang, N. Wang, Z. Yang, D. Wang, and T. Ma. 2019. “Flocculation-dewatering behavior of waste activated sludge particles under chemical conditioning with inorganic polymer flocculant: Effects of typical sludge properties.” Chemosphere 218 (Mar): 930–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.169.
Yu, G. H., P. J. He, L. M. Shao, and P. P. He. 2008. “Stratification structure of sludge flocs with implications to dewaterability.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (21): 7944–7949. https://doi.org/10.1021/es8016717.
Zhang, D. X., Y. L. Wang, H. Y. Gao, X. Y. Fan, Y. J. Guo, H. J. Wang, and H. L. Zheng. 2019a. “Variations in macro and micro physicochemical properties of activated sludge under a moderate oxidation-in situ coagulation conditioning: Relationship between molecular structure and dewaterability.” Water Res. 155 (May): 245–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.047.
Zhang, J., N. Li, X. Dai, W. Tao, I. R. Jenkinson, and Z. Li. 2018. “Enhanced dewaterability of sludge during anaerobic digestion with thermal hydrolysis pretreatment: New insights through structure evolution.” Water Res. 131 (Mar): 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.042.
Zhang, W. J., H. D. Wang, L. Q. Li, D. D. Li, Q. D. Wang, Q. Y. Xu, and D. S. Wang. 2019b. “Impact of molecular structure and charge property of chitosan based polymers on flocculation conditioning of advanced anaerobically digested sludge for dewaterability improvement.” Sci. Total Environ. 670 (Jun): 98–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.156.
Zhang, W. J., P. Xiao, Y. Y. Liu, S. W. Xu, F. Xiao, D. S. Wang, and C. W. K. Chow. 2014. “Understanding the impact of chemical conditioning with inorganic polymer flocculants on soluble extracellular polymeric substances in relation to the sludge dewaterability.” Sep. Purif. 132 (Aug): 430–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2014.05.034.
Zhang, X. D., P. Ye, and Y. J. Wu. 2022. “Enhanced technology for sewage sludge advanced dewatering from an engineering practice perspective: A review.” J. Environ. Manage. 321 (Nov): 115938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115938.
Zhen, G., X. Lu, H. Kato, Y. Zhao, and Y. Y. Li. 2017. “Overview of pretreatment strategies for enhancing sewage sludge disintegration and subsequent anaerobic digestion: Current advances, full-scale application and future perspectives.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 69 (Mar): 559–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.187.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 10 • October 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 2023
Accepted: Jun 18, 2023
Published online: Aug 7, 2023
Published in print: Oct 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jan 7, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Anaerobic processes
- Biological processes
- Chemical treatment
- Comparative studies
- Cooling (wastewater treatment)
- Dewatering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Environmental engineering
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Pollutants
- Polymer
- Research methods (by type)
- Sludge
- Synthetic materials
- Waste management
- Waste treatment
- Wastes
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.