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A comparative study of electro-dewatering process performance for activated and digested wastewater sludge.
Akrama Mahmoud1, Andrew F A Hoadley2, Morgane Citeau3
1Laboratoire de Thermique Energétique et Procédés (EAD 1932), UPPA, ENSGTI, BP 7511, 64075 Pau Cedex, France.
Water Research
|November 14, 2017
Summary
Electro-dewatering (EDW) improves sludge dewatering by leveraging electrical conductivity. Activated sludge dewaters faster than digested sludge due to lower conductivity, making EDW an efficient emerging technology for wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Electrochemistry
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Electro-dewatering (EDW) is an emerging, energy-efficient technology for wastewater sludge treatment.
- EDW offers potential for volume reduction and decontamination of sludge.
- Understanding sludge properties' influence on EDW is crucial for process optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of sludge properties on electro-dewatering performance.
- To assess the effect of applied current and filter cloth position on EDW.
- To compare EDW treatment of activated and digested sludge.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale two-sided filter press with a moving anode.
- Analysis of sludge properties: electrical conductivity, zeta potential, specific cake resistance.
- Evaluation of electrochemical parameters and dewatering rates.
Main Results:
- Digested sludge dewaters more effectively via mechanical dewatering (MDW) than activated sludge.
- Electrical conductivity significantly influences EDW final solids' dryness and kinetics.
- Activated sludge reached dewatering equilibrium faster due to lower electrical conductivity.
Conclusions:
- Sludge electrical conductivity is a key factor in electro-dewatering efficiency.
- Filter cloth positioning impacts energy requirements more than EDW performance.
- EDW is a promising technology for efficient wastewater sludge dewatering and potential decontamination.
