A hydrogen peroxide/ microwave advanced oxidation process for sewage sludge treatment

This study focused on the efficacy of the microwave/hydrogen peroxide advanced oxidation process (MW/H2O2-AOP) on the secondary sludge treatment. The results indicated that at temperatures of 80 degrees C and above, essentially all of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was solubilized by the combined MW/H2O2-AOP. This process also solubilized nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and metals) from sludge which can be extracted for other purposes, such as struvite crystallization. Based on a stoichiometric molar ratio of 1:1:1 for Mg:NH3:PO4, ammonia was found to be the limiting nutrient without any H2O2 addition in the process at all temperatures. With the addition of H2O2, ortho-phosphate became the limiting nutrient. In all treatments, magnesium was non-limiting, thus magnesium addition is not required for subsequent struvite crystallization. The MW/H2O2-AOP also enhanced the pasteurization or sterilization of sludge. The MW/H2O2-AOP provides novel sludge management options for the wastewater industry, not only in solubilization of carbon for further methane production, but also in nutrients extraction for crystallization for use as fertilizer.