This document summarizes research on innovations to improve sludge dewatering processes. It analyzes current dewatering technologies and evaluates new methods to disrupt water binding and improve release. The research finds that sludge floc structure influences residual water more than floc type. It also determines that applying pressure too early forms an impermeable cake layer, so time is important to achieve high solids content. The optimal method depends on sludge characteristics and combines structure disruption with proper timing of pressure application.
This document summarizes research on innovations to improve sludge dewatering processes. It analyzes current dewatering technologies and evaluates new methods to disrupt water binding and improve release. The research finds that sludge floc structure influences residual water more than floc type. It also determines that applying pressure too early forms an impermeable cake layer, so time is important to achieve high solids content. The optimal method depends on sludge characteristics and combines structure disruption with proper timing of pressure application.
This document summarizes research on innovations to improve sludge dewatering processes. It analyzes current dewatering technologies and evaluates new methods to disrupt water binding and improve release. The research finds that sludge floc structure influences residual water more than floc type. It also determines that applying pressure too early forms an impermeable cake layer, so time is important to achieve high solids content. The optimal method depends on sludge characteristics and combines structure disruption with proper timing of pressure application.
This document summarizes research on innovations to improve sludge dewatering processes. It analyzes current dewatering technologies and evaluates new methods to disrupt water binding and improve release. The research finds that sludge floc structure influences residual water more than floc type. It also determines that applying pressure too early forms an impermeable cake layer, so time is important to achieve high solids content. The optimal method depends on sludge characteristics and combines structure disruption with proper timing of pressure application.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH FOUNDATION WA S T E WATER TREATMENT AND REUSE
Innovations in Dewatering Sludges
W astewater treatment plant own- e rs and managers must contend B E N EFITS with high costs of processing Proposes a tool to select the appropri- and hauling sludge or biosolids. The ate dewatering device for sludge by weight and volume of sludge is a signifi- quantifying its compressible nature. cant cost factor, so it stands to reason Explains why dewatered sewage that effective sludge dewatering process- sludges might release water after es will lead to increased savings. appearing to be dewatered. This project provides managers and Demonstrates that the electrodewa t e r- operators with a fundamental understand- ing technique is applicable to a wide ing of how to improve sludge dewatering. range of sludges. The project was based on the theory that Provides evidence that biofloc stru c- the structure of flocs dictates the amount ture influences the residual amount of of water trapped within them. The binding water in the cake rather than floc or of water to sludge—and its eventual superflocculated stru c t u r e . release from the sludge—depends on CSIRO’s Bench-Scale Piston Filter Press. kinetic and equilibrium properties, which, conditioning, a reliable but expensive RELATED PRODUCTS in turn , rely on pressure. process. Thermal conditioning was anoth- U n d e rstanding Fa c t o rs Affecting Polymer This project analyzes current dewatering er candidate for improving dewatering fil- Demand for Conditioning and Dewatering technologies and evaluates new water terability or kinetics. (01CTS1) removal innovations that disrupt water Looking at how sludge cakes best Polymer Characterization and Control in binding mechanisms. A rigorous survey of shed their water content (Table 1), the Biosolids Management (91ISP5) the literature and evaluation of two bench- research team concluded that the base Guidance Manual for Polymer Selection in scale pressure filtration techniques give mechanism of each of the dewatering Wastewater Treatment Plants (91ISP5) the researchers a strong foundation to systems involves pressure. Biosolids Management: Assessment of identify why and when flocs are formed Innovative Processes (96REM1) and destabilized with advanced dewatering Floc Structure and Water Release capability and what dewatering and condi- Investigating the Effects of Electrical A rc The structure of flocs dictates the tioning methods are optimal for use in spe- Pretreatment of Biosolids (97REM4) amount of water that is trapped within cific situations. them and how this water is released dur- Thickening and Dewatering Processes: ing dewa t e r i n g. To find the optimal combi- How to Evaluate and Implement an Conditioning and Dewatering Review nation of structure and technique, the Automation Package (98REM3) The literature rev i ew outlines the funda- r e s e a r c h e rscharacterized the floc size, New Tool for Measuring Biosolids Floc mentals of dewatering, including a history compactness, and strength of sludges, Strength (01CTS32ETA) of various technologies. The rev i ew pro- and then correlated these with their vides a revealing look at the scope and response to pressure filtration. AVAILABLE FORMAT limitations of many of the conditioning and Through the use of two bench-scale Online PDF. dewatering techniques in use. pressure filtration techniques—to deter- TO ORDER The team evaluated sludge condition- mine the compressibility and perm e a b i l i t y Contact WERF at 703-684-2470 or visit ing and pretreatment methods on the of the cake network and to measure the www.werf.org and click on Publications. basis of whether they improved sludge dynamic rate and extent of expression floc characteristics, destroyed the sludge under increasing pressure (simulating a WERF Subscribers : cell’s exocellular polymers , or contributed belt-press filter)—the researchers show Your first copy of this report is free. Additional copies are $10 each or down- to microbial cell lysis that released the that the biofloc structure influences the load unlimited free PDFs at www.werf.org. cell’s water content. residual amount of water in the cake In general, the most successful tech- more than floc or superflocculated stru c- Non-Subscribers: PDF: $50 niques alter the nature of the solid and tures. It follows that exocellular polymers Refer to: STOCK NO 02CTS3 water floc structure to improve its dewa t- may be an important limiting factor in erability. The most reliable of these condi- achieving high cake solids. For more information, log on to tioning techniques is freeze-thaw Anaerobically digested sludge exhibit- www.werf.org. E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY Innovations in Dewatering Sludges ed the highest cake solids content. The Table 1. Summary of Mechanisms, Advantages, and Disadvantages of the Dewatering mixed liquor and thickened waste-activat- Devices Considered ed sludges and aerobically digested Dewatering Methods Mechanism and Advantages Disadvantages sludges were similar. Belt-Press filter Pressure and shearing Good flocculation vital D ewatered sludges are thixotropic, that Simple, visual process Often operated with high hydraulic loads or low residence times is, they release water after they appear to Filter press High pressure without shearing Semicontinuous (but automated) be dewatered. It has been shown that time is more important than pressure in Solid-bowl centrifuge High G forces and high shearing Often operated with high hydraulic achieving high cake solids contents. It loads or low residence times has been inferred that applying a high Vacuum drum filter Low pressure without shearing Low throughput or low cake solids contents pressure too early in the dewatering Hyperbaric filters High pressure without shearing Low throughput or low cake solids process forms an impermeable layer of contents cake through which the rest of the cake Screw press High pressure and high shearing, Low throughput or low cake solids Low capital costs contents water needs to flow. The challenge is to Prefers high solids contents find ways to overcome this, including: Tube press Very high pressure without shearing Semicontinuous (but automated) removing as much water as possible
before the cake form s , Wring alternating press High pressure and high shear Prefers high solids contents. Low through- put or low cake solids contents preventing, or minimizing, the layer(s) of Electrodewatering filter press Electric field promoting electro-osmosis Electrical costs–but offset by high solids impermeable cake from form i n g, and heating for moisture removal Semicontinuous (but automated) shearing the sludge so the water to be High pressure without shearing
removed does not need to pass through T h e rmal filter press Heat and vacuum promoting moisture Electrical costs–but offset by high solid removal. High pressure without shearing Semicontinuous (but automated) the impermeable layer(s), and Centridry centrifuge Combined thermal drying and Energy costs–but offset by high solids adding another driving force to help water dewatering Additional flowsheet unit operations vital pass through the impermeable layer(s). V-fold belt-press filter Tolerates poor flocculation Low throughput Pressure and shearing Techniques to Improve Sludge Dewatering Simple, visual process
Conditioning and dewatering regimes Rotary press Tolerates poor flocculation Possibly low throughput High pressure and shearing focus on modifying the microbes, the Simple, visual process bioflocs, and the flocs to be dewatered. Electrodewatering Electric field promoting electro-osmosis Still under development Pressure filtration and electrodewatering belt-press filter and heating for moisture removal Electrical costs–to be offset by high Pressure and shearing solids most actively enhanced moisture reduction Impulse dewatering Combined heat and mechanical pres- Development stalled due to low from sludges. The researchers also sure promoting moisture removal throughput assessed combined novel conditioning and novel dewatering techniques. Conclusion A treatment plant's ability to dewater the sludge particles. Pressure filtration Sludge that had been frozen and then sludges depends on the specific dewater- and electrodewatering significantly thawed appeared to have different bioflocs, ing process used by the plant and its abil- enhanced moisture reduction, but may not settled much more quickly than the non- ity to impact the nature and structure of always be cost effective. frozen sample. Once flocculated, this thawed sludge settled to a smaller volume and seemed to hold together better in a simple slump test. It dewatered much bet- The research on which this report is based was funded in part by the U.S. Environmental ter, with the initial dewatering being faster Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) through Cooperative Agreement No. CR-827345-01 with the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). Unless an U.S. EPA logo appears on the and achieving a higher solids content. cover, this report is a publication of WERF, not U.S. EPA. Funds awarded under the agreement Electrodewatering of the thawed sample cited above were not used for editorial services, reproduction, printing, or distribution. reached a significantly higher final solids content than for the nonfrozen sample. For equivalent power consumption, the thawed CONTRACTOR PROJECT SUBCOMMITTEE sample reached higher solids contents. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial John Novak, Ph.D., P.E., Chair onset of the electro-osmotic effect in the Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia Virginia Tech thawed sample was immediate, which PROJECT TEAM Stephen Constable, P.E. appears to have reduced the initial power DuPont Company Sarah A. Miller, Principal Investigator consumption required to reach high solids B ruce A. Fi rth, Ph.D. Matt Higgins, Ph.D., P.E. contents. CSIRO Bucknell Univers i t y Freezing, howev e r, is expensive. The Graeme J. Jameson, Ph.D. Sudhir Murthy, Ph.D., P.E. challenge is to identify a more economical The University of Newcastle District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority means than freezing for altering the dewa- Yao-de Yan, Ph.D. Nish M. Vasavada, P.E. terability of sludge. Hunter Water Australia Invista 05/08
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