Sludge Reduction through Ozonation: Effects of Different Specific Dosages and Operative Management Aspects in a Full-Scale Study
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 12
Abstract
The activated sludge process constitutes the most widely used wastewater treatment. The main drawback of this biological technology, however, is the excess sludge produced (ESP). In fact, disposal and management of this waste is one of the most expensive management costs at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Cell lysis based on the lower net biomass growth under cryptic conditions is one way to minimize the ESP directly in the water line. Ozone is a powerful oxidant used for this purpose. This paper reports the long-term data obtained at a full-scale plant (50,000 PE) where a fraction of the recycled sludge is treated with a low specific ozone dosage and a high treated sludge rate of approximately . The study presents results in terms of ESP reduction and the effect of ozone on the main WWTP performance parameters. Specific tests at different specific ozone dosages (SOD), ranging between 0.7 and , were carried out to assess biomass activity changes (AUR, NUR, and PAO activity), gravitational behavior, soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) release, and variation in the nonbiodegradable chemical oxygen demand (NBCOD) fraction. The main kinetic parameters under study did not change above a threshold of SOD of . Furthermore, a comprehensive full-scale analysis determined an overall ESP reduction of 10% in terms of dry solids. Finally, an analysis of the energy consumption and economic feasibility of this technique is also reported.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge CIIP SpA-Cicli for its availability in the experimental phase and for providing the possibility to perform this study, in addition to the collaboration of workers at the plant. The authors are also grateful for the financial support provided by the Consejeria de Ciencia e Innovacion of the Junta de Andalucia (Proyecto Excelencia No. P09-TEP-4539). The authors wish to thank the professionalism of Mr. Paul Barnes (English revision).
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 12 • December 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 1, 2014
Accepted: Jun 9, 2015
Published online: Jul 21, 2015
Published in print: Dec 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Dec 21, 2015
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