SLUDGE DIGESTION

மகன்தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும் உதவி இவன்தந்தை

என்நோற்றான் கொல்எனும் சொல்.
-குறள் 70
The mother who hears her son called "a wise man" will rejoice more than she did
at his birth.
SLUDGE DIGESTION
• The term sludge digestion is used to indicate tin decomposition of complex organic
substances present in sludge into simpler stable compounds by bio-chemical
reactions brought about by the anaerobic bacteria
• Objects of sludge digestion:
• The digested sludge is of better quality and can therefore be conveniently handled and
treated easily subsequently.
• The digestion destroys the pathogenic bacteria.
• The digestion gives fertiliser and other valuable by-products which, without digestion, would
have gone to waste.
• The digestion results in the recovery of combustible gases which may be used as fuel or
power.
• The volume of sludge is reduced and hence, it becomes easier to dispose it off.
SLUDGE DIGESTION
• Digested sludge: The digested sludge settles at the bottom of tank and it can be
easily dried and converted into sludge cakes on drying beds. The digested sludge
dries easily, liberates no offensive odours during drying and drains quickly. It also
flows rapidly and presents no difficulty in pumping.
• Gas: The decomposition also produces sewage gas which can be utilised as fuel.
It is accumulated near the top of tank.
• Supernatant liquid: The space between gas and digested sludge is occupied by
the supernatant liquid. It is added to the raw sewage or to the natural waters. If
two stage digestion is adopted, the supernatant liquid is in a better condition and
it can be added without any treatment to the raw sewage or to the natural
waters or it can be utilised for tin- purpose of irrigating the land.
Stages in sludge
digestion
1. Acid production stage
• Simple compounds like cellulose, starch, sugar, soluble nitrogenous compounds, etc. are attacked by bacteria.
• Products of decomposition are organic acids and gases.
• The main gases produced are methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.
• This stage continues for about 15 days or so.
2. Acid regression stage
• This is the intermediate stage. the organic acids and nitrogenous compounds are attacked by bacteria and
converted into acid carbonates and ammonia compounds.
• The decomposed sludge has very offensive odour.
• It is foamy in character and tends to rise to the surface to form scum.
• This stage extends for several months usually 3 months or so
3. Alkaline fermentation stage
• In this stage, the more resistant substances like proteins and some organic acids like amino acids are attacked
by bacteria and they are broken down into ammonia, organic acids and gases.
• During this stage, the liquid separates out from the solids and the digested sludge is formed.
• This sludge is granular and stable and it does not give out offensive odour.
• It is also known as the ripened sludge and it is collected at the bottom of tank. The digested sludge is alkaline
in nature. This stage extends for a period of about one month or so.
Factors affecting sludge digestion

• Temperature
• Sludge seeding
• Mixing
• pH value
• Nutrients
SLUDGE DISPOSAL
• Disposal on land
• Distribution by pipe line
• Drying on drying beds
• Dumping into the sea
• Heat-drying
• Incineration
• Lagooning or ponding.
 Disposal on land
• Ploughing method: In the ploughing method,
the sludge is mixed either with milk of lime or
with powdered lime. It is then spread on the
land, is then ploughed. The crops can be raised
on such land, if convenient
• Trenching method: In the trenching method, the
trenches about 900 mm wide and 600 mm deep
are dug in parallel rows at a distance of about
1.5 m, The trenches are filled with sludge and a
thin layer of excavated earth is placed over it.
The process is repeated by digging new trenches
between the old ones and then at right angles to
the direction of previous ones.
Drying on drying beds
• The ground is excavated to the required depth. The valleys of suitable
section are formed for the underdrains. The valleys are constructed at
3 m to 5 m centres. Usually a drying bed contains two valleys for
underdrains
• The drying beds are generally
arranged in series and they
are usually not covered at
top.
Lagooning or ponding
• A lagoon is a shallow pit 600mm -1.2m
• Wet sludge is left over here for natural process like evaporation and
drying
• Treatment time varies from 3-6 months