Physicochemical Characteristics of Waste Activated Sludge after Gamma-Ray Irradiation
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 7
Abstract
The physicochemical characteristics of waste activated sludge (WAS) exposed to gamma-ray irradiation at doses of 0 to 15 kGy were investigated. Results showed that irradiation dose significantly influenced the physicochemical properties of WAS. Static sedimentation experiment indicated that the settleability was slightly improved after irradiation. Measurement of suspended solids showed that the sludge volume decreased. A vacuum filtration test demonstrated that 1 to 4 kGy would be potentially successful for dewaterability enhancement, and irradiation and cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) coconditioning showed desirable synergistic effects. Decreased particle size and increased turbidity of supernatant, soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), and content of soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) indicated that irradiation doses above 4 kGy could efficiently disintegrate sludge flocs and cells. An optimal value for the complete disintegration of sludge was not determined, because irradiation dose higher than 15 kGy was not applied in this study. Possible mechanisms of irradiation were also discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The research was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51378247). The authors deeply appreciate their financial support.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 7 • July 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 30, 2016
Accepted: Dec 13, 2016
Published ahead of print: Feb 26, 2017
Published online: Feb 27, 2017
Published in print: Jul 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 27, 2017
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