Sludge Disposal Methods

Digestion of Sludge

Aerobic

Anaerobic

Aerobic Digestion

Biological sludge treatment process

Employs aeration to stabilize waste sludge

Reduces total volume of sludge by aerobic

bacteria that breakdown volatile solids

reates condition that forces the

microorganisms to use their own cellular
mass as a food source

!rocess re"uires a source of aeration

Aerobic Digestion

#perates either on a batch or continuous

basis

Supernatant may be drawn off to allow

additional sludge to be added

Solids concentration entering the digester

may run $%& to '%$ percent

Aerobic Digestion ontrol (actors

Dissolved #)ygen

$%& to *%$ mg+,

-emperature

. &$ degrees (

Solids Retention -ime

. SR- the . volatile solids reduction /

p0

carbon dio)ide produced from digestion reduces the p0

best if kept at 1%$

#rganic ,oading 2. #, 3 .D# levels needed /

Anaerobic Digestion

Absence of #)ygen

Most economical option if the process produce

energy by using methane

Stabilized sludge is relatively inert

Anaerobic Digestion 4 Stages

'
st
5 E)tracellular enzymes 2 outside cell/
breaks down solid comple) organics

*
nd
5 Acid formers 2 acid production and acid
regression stages / microorganisms convert
products of first stage to organic acids 6
carbon dio)ide 6 hydrogen

4
rd
5 Methane forming bacteria converts
hydrogen and carbon dio)ide to methane

Anaerobic Digestion 5 Methane (ormers

ontrols the process

Sensitive to environmental factors 2 p0 7

temperature 7 to)ins /

Reproduce very slowly

Easy to kill and difficult to grow

Anaerobic Digestion

8niformity and consistency in operations

Sudden changes can inhibit performance

Raw sludge is blended with recirculated

digester sludge

-wo criteria that determines capacity 7 is

hydraulic detention time 6 volatile solids
loading rate

Anaerobic Digestion

0ydraulic detention time

'& to *$ days

#rganic loading

$%' to $%9 lbs% :S+cu%ft%+day

Anaerobic Digestion -ypes

(i)ed overs 5 number of different

constructions

(loating overs 5 (loats directly on the li"uid

surface

Anaerobic Digestion 0eating
Systems

Maintaining a constant temperature for

methane5formers is one of the most important
control functions

0eat is re"uired to maintain digester

temperature and to heat incoming sludge

Anaerobic Digestion 5 -emperature
Ranges

!sychrophilic

&$ to ;< degrees (

&$ to '<$ days

=enerally not very effective

Mesophilic

<& to '$$ degrees (

*& to 4$ days

Most popular

-hermophilic

'*$ to '4& degrees (

& to '* days

Mostly used for class >A? sludge

Anaerobic Digester 5 (oaming

(ine bubbles of gas trapped in a semi5li"uid

matri)

ommonly forms during start5up and when

the digester is under stress

Start5up 2 carbon dio)ide to methane ratio is not

e"ual /

Sludge !rocessing

oncentration and stabilization of sludge prior to final

disposal

Methods

thickening

stabilization

conditioning

dewatering

!urpose is to reduce

potential problems from pathogens

"uality of undesirable organic material

potential for odor problems

reduce vector attraction

Sludge !rocessing

-hickening

increases solids content by removing e)cess

water

promotes efficient sludge digestion

Methods

gravity

solids content of '5 4 @

dissolved air floation

solids content * 5 < @

Sludge !rocessing

Stabilization 5 reduces organic matter in sludge to a

more stable form

Methods

thermal

applying heat to drive away water

lime stabilization

applying lime until pH of 12 or higher for 2 hrs

aerobic & anaerobic digestion

Composting

microorganisms break down organic matter to a humus-

like material

Sludge !rocessing

omposting

windrow

mechanical

Suitable environment must be established 6

maintained for bacteria to survive

Blending

aeration

temperature

Sludge !rocessing
(actors affecting composting

sludge type

initial moisture content

uniformity of mi)ture

fre"uency of aeration or turning

climatic conditions

desired moisture content of final product

Sludge !rocessing

Dewatering 5 removes li"uids

Drying beds

solids concentration up to 9$@

used for well digested7 stabilized residuals

entrifuges

solids concentration *$ to 9$ @

rotates li"uids at high speeds 6 spins the water away

Sludge !rocessing

:acuum (ilters

solids concentration '& to 4$ @

rotating filter media passes through vat of residuals7

residuals coat the filter and water is e)tracted by vacuum7
polymers may be used

!ressure filters

solids concentration up to &$@

series of verticle plates7belts7or frames7 water s"ueezed

out under pressure7 solids are retained between the belts
or plates

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions
Ancineration

burning sludge at high temperatures in

furnace

volume is reduced

ash is stabilized

re"uires air permit 6 pollutant removal

high operating costs

comple)

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions
,andfill

disposal of sludge in a lined landfill

leachate collection re"uired

odor potential

local regulatory re"uirements

ine)pensive

trucking costs

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions
Surface disposal

trench7 waste pile7 lagoon

biosolids remain longer than * years

monofills

surface impoundment

dedicated disposal sites

Re"uirements for Sludge Surface
Disposal

Systems without liners

have pollutant limits for arsenic7chromium7 and

nickel

must have leachate collection system and monitor

leachate

systems with covers

have methane limits

cannot be in the '$$yr% floodplain7 wetland7 or area

with geologic faults

re"uires an B!DES stormwater permit

Re"uirements for Sludge Surface
Disposal

Special restrictions on crops and grazing

public access restricted for 4 years after

closure

groundwater monitoring

pathogen and vector reduction re"uirements

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions
,and Application

application of sludge to condition the soil or fertilize

crops + other vegetation

sprayed or spread on soil surface

tilled into soil or inCected directly below the surface

must be applied at agronomic rates7 meet pollutant

limits7 and pathogen 6 vector attraction reduction
re"uirements

re"uires 4$ days or more of storage

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions

sites must be evaluated for soils7 depth to

S0D-7depth to bedrock7buffer re"uirements

application rate limited by type of crop to be grown

application events must be timed to coordinate with

farmers schedules

records must be maintained 6 submitted to DDE

yearly

re"uires certified operator

re"uires large amounts of land

odor potential

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions

Distributing 6 Marketing F composted sludge

given away or sold in bulk

must achieve class A sludge

end use is not regulated

bag or bulk compost

Sludge Reuse or Disposal #ptions
!athogen 6 :ector Attraction Reduction

two levels of pathogen reduction are

recognized by both E!A and DDE

class B or !SR!

class A or !(R!

vector attraction reduction

reducing the attractiveness of sludge to

flies7mos"uitoes7fleas7rodents7 and birds