Optimizing sludge dewatering with a combined conditioner of Fenton's reagent and cationic surfactant

Enhancing sludge dewatering is of importance in reducing environmental burden and disposal costs. In this work, a cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), was combined with Fenton's reagent for sludge dewatering. Results show that the Fenton-CTAB conditioning significantly promotes the sludge dewatering. Using combined techniques of response surface methodology and uniform design, dosages of Fe²⁺, H₂O₂, and CTAB for water content response were optimized to be 89, 276, and 233 mg/g dry solids (DS), respectively. The water content of sludge decreased from 79.0% to 66.8% under the optimal conditions. Compared with cationic polyacrylamide, the Fenton-CTAB system exhibited superior sludge dewatering performance. To gain insights into the mechanisms involved in sludge dewatering, the effects of Fenton-CTAB conditioning on the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the morphology of the sludge flocs were investigated. The decomposition of EPS into some dissolved organics and the release of proteins in tightly bound EPS facilitated the conversion of bound water to free water and further reduced the water content of sludge cake. After conditioning, morphology of sludge showed aggregation. Overall, the enhanced sludge dewatering by Fenton-CTAB treatment provides an efficient way for management of sewage sludge.