[Sludge dewaterability with combined conditioning using Fenton's reagent and CPAM]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Wastewater Management

Background:

• Sludge moisture content critically impacts dewaterability and disposal costs.
• Effective sludge dewatering is essential for efficient wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and Fenton's reagent for sludge dewatering.
• To evaluate the performance of separate and combined conditioning methods on sludge dewaterability.
• To analyze the conditioning mechanisms influencing sludge dewatering.

Main Methods:

• Sludge conditioning using varying dosages of CPAM and Fenton's reagent (FeSO4 and H2O2).
• Evaluation of dewatering performance through cake moisture analysis.
• Analysis of supernatant characteristics (soluble COD, protein, polysaccharide) and sludge particle size.

Main Results:

• Favorable dewaterability achieved with higher CPAM dosages and acidic conditions.
• Fenton reaction enhanced dewatering, reducing sludge moisture from 85.5% to 76.7% at optimized dosages.
• Combined conditioning with CPAM and Fenton's reagent yielded the lowest moisture content (74.8%).
• Fenton reaction disintegrated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), releasing water and increasing specific surface area.
• CPAM addition promoted flocculation, increasing sludge particle size and decreasing specific surface area.

Conclusions:

• Combined conditioning with Fenton's reagent and CPAM is highly effective for sludge dewatering.
• The synergistic effect of both conditioning agents significantly improves sludge dewaterability compared to individual treatments.
• Optimized application of these methods offers a promising solution for reducing sludge disposal costs and environmental impact.