Utilization of sewage sludge in EU application of old and new methods—A review
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review past and future trends in sludge handling, focusing mainly at thermal processes (e.g. pyrolysis, wet oxidation, gasification) and the utilization of sewage sludge in cement manufacture as a co-fuel.
Abstract: The European Union has made progress in dealing with municipal wastewater in individual countries and as a corporate entity. However, it intends to make still further and substantial progress over the next 15 years. Currently, the most widely available options in the EU are the agriculture utilization, the waste disposal sites, the land reclamation and restoration, the incineration and other novel uses. The selection of an option on a local basis reflects local or national, cultural, historical, geographical, legal, political and economic circumstances. The degree of flexibility varies from country to country. In any case sludge treatment and disposal should always be considered as an integral part of treatment of wastewater. There is a wide range of other uses for sludge, which exploit its energy or chemical content, namely the thermal processes. The present paper sought to review past and future trends in sludge handling, focusing mainly at thermal processes (e.g. pyrolysis, wet oxidation, gasification) and the utilization of sewage sludge in cement manufacture as a co-fuel.
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TL;DR: In this paper, batch and continuous countercurrent fermentations were performed with a 60:40 mixture (dry weight basis) of lime-treated bagasse:sludge, which provided an optimal C/N ratio and therefore enhances yield.
Abstract: Sludge is the solids recovered from wastewater treatment. Its high content of organic matter makes it a potential biomass resource for renewable energy production. In this study, batch and continuous countercurrent fermentations were performed with a 60:40 mixture (dry weight basis) of lime-treated bagasse:sludge. This combination provides an optimal C/N ratio and therefore enhances yield. Two trains of continuous fermentations were performed using different volatile solids loading rates (VSLR) and liquid retention times (LRT). The highest total carboxylic acids concentration obtained was 60.8 g L −1 with a total acid yield of 420 g kg −1 of VS added and an acid productivity of 2.31 g L −1 d −1 . In studies on co-fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass, this acid concentration is the highest reported in MixAlco™ (a patented process that converts biomass to a mixture of alcohols). This study shows that wastewater sludge is a valuable resource for liquid transportation fuels, and provides an attractive replacement for fossil fuels.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a glasshouse experiment was conducted by mixing sewage sludge at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 100% (V/V) amendment ratios to landscape soils and planting five common landscape plants (Aphelandra ruellia, Syngonium podophyllum, Schefflera odorata, Alocasia macrorrhiza, and Dianella ensifolia).
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a field experiment showed that application of municipal sewage sludge increased uptake of macronutrients by spring barley, which improved its feed value and increased soil abundance in organic carbon and total nitrogen.
Abstract: Abstract Due to the fact that soils in Poland are mostly light soils, there is a need to improve their physical, chemical and biological properties. In addition, as a result of the decrease in the number of farm animals, a decrease in production of natural fertilizers can be observed. Low production of natural fertilizers speaks in favor of agricultural use of municipal sewage sludge in Poland. Municipal sewage sludge is composed of large quantities of macronutrients necessary for plants. This waste also contains significant amounts of organic substance. Chemical properties, including a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and often calcium, speak in favor of environmental use of municipal sewage sludge. Increasing requirements with respect to environmental protection cause the necessity to assess the effects of using organic waste for fertilization. In a farm located in the commune of Iwanowice (Małopolska province), municipal sewage sludge was applied under spring barley cultivation. The soil on which municipal sewage sludge was applied was classified into the category of heavy soils with neutral reaction. When assessing the content of available nutrients (P, K, Mg) in the soil, their low content was determined. After application of municipal sewage sludge in a dose of 24 Mg fresh matter per hectare, which corresponded to 5.34 Mg DM·ha−1, under spring barley, beneficial changes in chemical properties of the soil were observed. An increase in soil abundance in organic carbon and total nitrogen was observed, as well as an increase in the content of available forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Based on the results of the conducted chemical analyses, it was established that biomass of spring barley fertilized with sewage sludge contained more macronutrients (N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg), which improved its feed value. The field experiment showed that application of municipal sewage sludge increased uptake of macronutrients by spring barley.
13 citations
Cites background from "Utilization of sewage sludge in EU ..."
...Due to high abundance in organic matter and nutrients, agricultural use of municipal sewage sludge appears to be substantiated in environmental and economic respects (Flis-Bujak et al. 1986, Fytili and Zabaniotou 2008)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of the conditioner dosages, mass ratios of the rice hull to sludge, and the combustion temperatures on NOx emissions from briquette combustion were studied.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the beneficial reuses of the aluminum-based sludge to close the loop between the sludge waste generation and the sustainable environment with providing past, current and updated knowledge with the introduced uses with their advantages and challenges.
Abstract: Abstract Alum sludge (AS) is an underrated by-product waste resulted from treating raw water through conventional water treatment plants. Water is attained from various reservoirs such as rivers and aquifers, and it may contain a wide variety of contaminants as drinking water processing systems produce “waste” sludge as a residual material that causes significant environmental issues. Hence, numerous efforts aimed to sustainable reuses of such sludge. This article illustrates the beneficial reuses of the aluminum-based sludge to close the loop between the sludge waste generation and the sustainable environment with providing past, current and updated knowledge with the introduced uses with their advantages and challenges. Alum sludge as a resource not as a “waste” for reuse facilities is considered a value-added alternative for management achieving the legislation requirements and proposing “end-of-waste” concept. 5Rs, including “Reduce, Reprocess, Reuse, Recycle and Recover,” are providing sustainable solution to fulfill present and future aspects for green environment and safe sludge disposal. In this regard, now, it is essential to focus and adopt the 5Rs criteria for the concept of circular economy that replaces the “end-of-life” principal with restoration.
13 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, an analytical procedure involving sequential chemicai extractions was developed for the partitioning of particulate trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe, and Mn) into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, binding to Fe-Mn oxides and bound to organic matter.
Abstract: An analytical procedure involving sequential chemicai extractions has been developed for the partitioning of particulate trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe, and Mn) into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, and residual. Experimental results obtained on replicate samples of fluvial bottom sediments demonstrate that the relative standard deviation of the sequential extraction procedure Is generally better than =10%. The accuracy, evaluated by comparing total trace metal concentrations with the sum of the five Individual fractions, proved to be satisfactory. Complementary measurements were performed on the Individual leachates, and on the residual sediments following each extraction, to evaluate the selectivity of the various reagents toward specific geochemical phases. An application of the proposed method to river sediments is described, and the resulting trace metal speciation is discussed.
10,518 citations
"Utilization of sewage sludge in EU ..." refers background in this paper
...Over the last decades, a great variety of extraction schemes, both simple and sequential have been developed and, although some methods have been widely used [12,13] none has been unreservedly accepted by the scientific community....
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Book•
01 Jan 1972
TL;DR: Wastewater Engineering: An Overview of Wastewater Engineering, Methods and Implementation Considerations as mentioned in this paper is a good starting point for a discussion of the issues of wastewater engineering. But, it is not a complete survey of the entire literature.
Abstract: Wastewater Engineering: An Overview. Wastewater Flowrates. Wastewater Characteristics. Wastewater Treatment Objective, Methods, and Implementation Considerations. Introduction to Wastewater Treatment Plant Design. Physical Unit Operations. Chemical Unit Processes. Biological Unit Processes. Design of Facilities for Physical and Chemical Treatment of Wastewater. Design of Facilities for the Biological Treatment of Wastewater. Advanced Wastewater Treatment. Design of Facilities for the Treatment and Disposal of Sludge. Natural-Treatment Systems. Small Wastewater Treatment Systems. Management of Wastewater from Combined Sewers. Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse.
3,826 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the current and future issues related to the combustion of sewage sludge is presented, and a number of technologies for thermal processing of sludge are discussed in three groups, i.e., mono-combustion, cocombustions and alternative processes.
1,026 citations
"Utilization of sewage sludge in EU ..." refers background in this paper
...Multiple hearth and fluidized bed furnaces are the most popular and the latter is becoming widely applied [24]....
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...Analysis has shown that about 78–98% of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn present in the sewage sludge are retained in the ash, whereas up to 98% of the Hg may be released into the atmosphere with the flue gas [24]....
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...The whole process is occurring in two distinctive regimes [24]:...
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a standardization with respect to grain size effects, commonly achieved by analyzing the sieve fraction <63μm, which is used to pin point major sources of metal pollution and to estimate the toxicity potential of dredged materials.
Abstract: Sediment analyses are used to pin‐point major sources of metal pollution and to estimate the toxicity potential of dredged materials on agricultural land. For source assessments (Part I of the present review) standardization is needed with respect to grain size effects, commonly achieved by analyzing the sieve fraction <63μm. Further aspects include sampling methods, evaluation of background data and extent of anthropogenic metal enrichment.
530 citations