Biosolid Sludge

Management
By:
Engr. Muhammad Hasan Uddin
Biosolid Sludge

• Biosolids Sludge refers to the residual, semi-solid

material that is produced as a by-product
during sewage treatment of industrial or
municipal wastewater

• Biosolids is the organic matter recycled from sewage,

especially for use in agriculture as fertilizer
Background

• Over 7 million ton of dry municipal sludge solids

generated annually in the U.S.

• Approximately 2.2 million ton of biosolids (primarily

Class B) were applied to land in 1998
Reference: Ecological and economical balance for sludge management options ,
Jeremy Hall,, Medmenham
Constituents of Biosolids
• Volatile Solids
• Nutrients (N & P)
• Pathogenic Organisms
• Heavy Metals
• Organic Chemicals
Sludge Characteristics

Reference: Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse 4th Edition

Stabilization

• Stabilization is a chemical or biological process that

stops the natural fermentation of the sludge.
During Stabilization Process

Reference: Sludge Treatment and Disposal, Cleverson Vitorio Andreoli,

Contaminants

• The undesirable Constituents are better controlled in their

sources i.e. industries etc.

• After testing on lab scale decision is made to accept or

reject industrial waste to Treatment Plant
Reference: Sludge Treatment and Disposal, Cleverson Vitorio Andreoli,
Concentrations of Pathogens
 Criteria for Reduction of
Sludge Pathogens

Class A • Pathogens below detectable level

• Density of pathogens 100 times

Class B less than in the influent wastewater

• Density of pathogens 31.6 times

Class C less than in the influent wastewater

Reference: National lime association fact sheet, national lime association ,January 1999
Processes to Further Reduce
Pathogens (After Stabilization)
Beta Ray Irradiation beta ray dosage required

Gamma Ray Irradiation gamma rays from Cobalt 60 or

Cesium 139 dosage required

Pasteurization minimum temp required is 70°C

158°F) for at least 30 minutes

Reference: Sludge Treatment and Disposal, Cleverson Vitorio Andreoli,

Time Also Remove
Pathogens!

Reference: Sludge Treatment and Disposal, Cleverson Vitorio Andreoli,

Reference: Sludge Treatment and Disposal, Cleverson Vitorio Andreoli,
 Costs of Biosolids
Processing
• Collection
• Pretreatment :
• Construction, equipment, operations energy & labor
costs
• Transportation (pumping or hauling)
• Processing :
• Land, construction, equipment, operations energy, &
labor costs
Reference: Ecological and economical balance for sludge management options ,
Jeremy Hall,, Medmenham
 Stabilization

Thermal Chemical Biological

Stabilization Stabilization Stabilization

(using lime with

Anaerobic Aerobic
small amount of
Digestion Digestion
Ferric Chloride)
Aerobic Digestion

• Advantages
• low capital costs
• easy to operate
• minimal odor
• high pathogens reductions
• Disadvantages
• high power costs to supply oxygen, even for very small
plants.
• poor mechanical dewatering characteristics
 Aerobic Composting
Operating Parameters
• oxygen availability within the compost,
• moisture content (50 – 60%)
• Temp (55 – 60 C) &
• Retention time 21 to 30 days
Aerobic Composting Stabilization
Anaerobic Sludge
Digestion
• Advantages
• digester gas contains methane
• Approximately 25- 45% (weight basis) of the influent
sludge solids are destroyed
• pathogens are inactivated
• Disadvantages
• High Capital Cost
• Long Detention Time nearly 15 days
Chemical Stabilization

• It is most Cost Effective

• environmentally protective
• Lower H2S production

• It uses lime with small amount of Ferric Chloride

to control PH
Lime
Stabilization
Beneficial Use/Disposal
Options for Municipal Sludge
“Biosolids”
• Land Application
• Distribution and Marketing
• Land filling
• Incineration
Incineration

• Replaces Hydrocarbon fuel

• Used as Energy Source
• NOx and CO2 are produced

• Require sophisticated filters to reduce particulate

emissions (mostly electrostatic precipitators)
• Regular Monitoring
 Land Filling
• Life-long carbon storage
• Methane gas is produced
• for uncontrolled methane production CO2 is also released
Land Applications
Advancements in Sludge
Management
• Sludge treatment and disposal is expensive

• Anaerobic treatment of sewage, combined with aerobic

post-treatments can reduce to about 50% the excess
sludge generation

Reference: Alternative waste water treatment processes

to reduce sewage sludge production , Andrea Tilche1,
Giuseppe Bortone2 and Michal Dohányos3
Advancements in Sludge
Management
The End