Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptability of organic matter and solid content to Fe2+/persulfate and skeleton builder conditioner for waste activated sludge dewatering

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sludge conditioning is important for improved dewatering, with the sludge characteristics impacting the effect of conditioning. A composite conditioner, Fe2+-activated sodium persulfate (Fe2+/SPS) combined with phosphogypsum (PG), was used to examine its impact on sludges with different organic contents (34.6–43.8%) or different solid contents (2.8–5.9%). Response surface optimization analysis shows that when the best conditioning is achieved, the reduction of the specific resistance to filtration (SRF) is not sensitive to organic matter content, but the dewatering performance of the sludge is greatly affected by the solid content. The oxidation role of Fe2+/SPS and the skeleton builder role of PG together affect the conditioning, oxidation playing a major role in conditioning, especially for greater organic matter content. The organic content (maximum ηSOL value was 0.32) also affects the effectiveness of the skeleton builder more than the solid content (Maximum ηSOL value was 0.25). Changes in PG significantly impacts the optimal molar ratio and dosage of Fe2+/SPS. Sludge with greater solid content requires greater Fe2+/SPS dosage to provide stronger oxidation to destroy flocs, and the maximum Fe2+:SPS molar ratio was 1.14 with solid content of 5.9 wt%. The composite conditioning decreases the content of extracellular polymeric substances and proteins/polysaccharides. This study provides new insight into the relationship between the oxidation role of Fe2+/SPS and the skeleton builder role of PG for sludge conditioning strategies according to the optimal conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CS:

conditioned sludge

DS:

dry solid

EPS:

extracellular polymeric substances

LB-EPS:

loosely bound-EPS

OMC:

organic matter content

PG:

phosphogypsum

PN:

protein

PS:

polysaccharides

RS:

raw sludge

RSM:

response surface methodology

SC:

solid content

SF:

Fe2+/S2O82─

SPS:

sodium persulfate

SRF:

specific resistance to filtration

TB-EPS:

tightly bound-EPS

WC:

water content

References

  • Badalians Gholikandi G, Zakizadeh N, Masihi H (2018) Application of peroxymonosulfate-ozone advanced oxidation process for simultaneous waste-activated sludge stabilization and dewatering purposes: A comparative study. J Environ Manag 206:523–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benítez J, Rodríguez A, Suárez A (1994) Optimization technique for sewage sludge conditioning with polymer and skeleton builders. Water Res 28:2067–2073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bian C, Ge D, Wang G, Dong Y, Li W, Zhu N, Yuan H (2021) Enhancement of waste activated sludge dewaterability by ultrasound-activated persulfate oxidation: Operation condition, sludge properties, and mechanisms. Chemosphere 262:128385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao B, Zhang T, Zhang W, Wang D (2021) Enhanced technology based for sewage sludge deep dewatering: A critical review. Water Res 189:116650

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco M, Gao W (2019) Sludge particle size and correlation with soluble organic matter and conditioning characteristics after freezing treatments. Water Air Soil Pollut 230:54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Zhang W, Wang D, Ma T, Bai R (2015) Enhancement of activated sludge dewatering performance by combined composite enzymatic lysis and chemical re-flocculation with inorganic coagulants: Kinetics of enzymatic reaction and re-flocculation morphology. Water Res 83:367–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Xiong Q, Li H, Hou H, Zhou M (2020) Enhancement of the sewage sludge dewaterability by using ethanol and Fe(III)-rice husk. Environ Sci Pollut R 27:8696–8706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen K, Liu J, Huang S, Mei M, Chen S, Wang T, Li J (2021) Evaluation of the combined effect of sodium persulfate and thermal hydrolysis on sludge dewatering performance. Environ Sci Pollut R 28:7586–7597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DuBois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric Method for Determination of Sugars and Related Substances. Anal Chem 28:350–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frølund B, Palmgren R, Keiding K, Nielsen PH (1996) Extraction of extracellular polymers from activated sludge using a cation exchange resin. Water Res 30:1749–1758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Yuan H, Xiao J, Zhu N (2019) Insight into the enhanced sludge dewaterability by tannic acid conditioning and pH regulation. Sci Total Environ 679:298–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Zhou Y (2020) Transformation of heavy metals and dewaterability of waste activated sludge during the conditioning by Fe2+-activated peroxymonosulfate oxidation combined with rice straw biochar as skeleton builder. Chemosphere 238:124628

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Jiang S, Pang Y (2019a) Rice straw biochar modified by aluminum chloride enhances the dewatering of the sludge from municipal sewage treatment plant. Sci Total Environ 654:338–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo S, Liang H, Bai L, Qu F, Ding A, Ji B, Wang X, Li G (2019b) Synergistic effects of wheat straw powder and persulfate/Fe(II) on enhancing sludge dewaterability. Chemosphere 215:333–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z, Ma L, Dai Q, Ao R, Liu H, Yang J (2020) Combined application of modified corn-core powder and sludge-based biochar for sewage sludge pretreatment: Dewatering performance and dissipative particle dynamics simulation. Environ Pollut 265:115095

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He D-Q, Wang L-F, Jiang H, Yu H-Q(2015) A Fenton-like process for the enhanced activated sludge dewatering. Chem Eng J 272:128–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He D-Q, Chen J-Y, Bao B, Pan X-L, Li J, Qian C, Yu H-Q(2020) Optimizing sludge dewatering with a combined conditioner of Fenton's reagent and cationic surfactant. J Environ Sci 88:21–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Li Z, Zhang A, Mao S, Tao W (2020) Using a strong chemical oxidant, potassium ferrate (K2FeO4), in waste activated sludge treatment: A review. Environ Res 188:109764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huo M, Zheng G, Zhou L (2014) Enhancement of the dewaterability of sludge during bioleaching mainly controlled by microbial quantity change and the decrease of slime extracellular polymeric substances content. Bioresour Technol 168:190–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim MS, Lee K-M, Kim H-E, Lee H-J, Lee C, Lee C (2016) Disintegration of waste activated sludge by thermally-activated persulfates for enhanced dewaterability. Environ Sci Technol 50:7106–7115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li XY, Yang SF (2007) Influence of loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the flocculation, sedimentation and dewaterability of activated sludge. Water Res 41:1022–1030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang J, Huang S, Dai Y, Li L, Sun S (2015) Dewaterability of five sewage sludges in Guangzhou conditioned with Fenton's reagent/lime and pilot-scale experiments using ultrahigh pressure filtration system. Water Res 84:243–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Yang S, Shi J, Xu X, Liu H, Fu B (2016a) Towards understanding the dewatering mechanism of sewage sludge improved by bioleaching processing. Sep Purif Technol 165:53–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Yang Q, Wang D, Li X, Zhong Y, Li X, Deng Y, Wang L, Yi K, Zeng G (2016b) Enhanced dewaterability of waste activated sludge by Fe(II)-activated peroxymonosulfate oxidation. Bioresour Technol 206:134–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu R, Yu X, Yu P, Guo X, Zhang B, Xiao B (2019) New insights into the effect of thermal treatment on sludge dewaterability. Sci Total Environ 656:1082–1090

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu M-C, Lin C-J, Liao C-H, Huang R-Y, Ting W-P(2003) Dewatering of activated sludge by Fenton's reagent. Adv Environ Res 7:667–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo J, Zhang Q, Wu L, Feng Q, Fang F, Xue Z, Li C, Cao J (2018) Improving anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge using iron activated persulfate treatment. Bioresour Technol 268:68–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mobaraki M, Semken RS, Mikkola A, Pyrhönen J (2018) Enhanced sludge dewatering based on the application of high-power ultrasonic vibration. Ultrasonics 84:438–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ni B-J, Yan X, Sun J, Chen X, Peng L, Wei W, Wang D, Mao S, Dai X, Wang Q (2019) Persulfate and zero valent iron combined conditioning as a sustainable technique for enhancing dewaterability of aerobically digested sludge. Chemosphere 232:45–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramachandra RH, Devatha CP (2020) Experimental investigation on sludge dewatering using granulated blast furnace slag as skeleton material. Environ Sci Pollut R 27:11870–11881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rumky J, Ncibi MC, Burgos-Castillo RC, Deb A, Sillanpää M (2018) Optimization of integrated ultrasonic-Fenton system for metal removal and dewatering of anaerobically digested sludge by Box-Behnken design. Sci Total Environ 645:573–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sari Erkan H, Onkal Engin G (2020) A comparative study of waste activated sludge disintegration by electrochemical pretreatment process combined with hydroxyl and sulfate radical based oxidants. J Environ Chem Eng 8:103918

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Yang J, Yu W, Zhang S, Liang S, Song J, Xu Q, Ye N, He S, Yang C, Hu J (2015) Synergetic conditioning of sewage sludge via Fe2+/persulfate and skeleton builder: Effect on sludge characteristics and dewaterability. Chem Eng J 270:572–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Yang J, Liang S, Yu W, Hou H (2016) Principal component analysis on sewage sludge characteristics and its implication to dewatering performance with Fe2+/persulfate-skeleton builder conditioning. Int J Environ Sci Te 13:2283–2292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H-F, Hu H, Wang H-J, Zeng RJ (2018) Impact of dosing order of the coagulant and flocculant on sludge dewatering performance during the conditioning process. Sci Total Environ 643:1065–1073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Ma C, Zhu Y, Yang Y, Du G, Li J (2019) Deep dewatering process of sludge by chemical conditioning and its potential influence on wastewater treatment plants. Environ Sci Pollut R 26:33838–33846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H-F, Hu H, Wang H-J, Bai Y-N, Shen X-F, Zhang W, Zeng RJ (2020) Comprehensive investigation of the relationship between organic content and waste activated sludge dewaterability. J Hazard Mater 394:122547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei L, Xia X, Zhu F, Li Q, Xue M, Li J, Sun B, Jiang J, Zhao Q (2020) Dewatering efficiency of sewage sludge during Fe2+-activated persulfate oxidation: Effect of hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of sludge EPS. Water Res 181:115903

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Lu T, Bi J, Yuan H, Chen Y (2019a) A novel sewage sludge biochar and ferrate synergetic conditioning for enhancing sludge dewaterability. Chemosphere 237:124339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Zhou Z, Yang J, Chen G, Yao J, Tu C, Zhao X, Qiu Z, Wu Z (2019b) Insights into conditioning of landfill sludge by FeCl3 and lime. Water Res 160:167–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu B, Dai X, Chai X (2020) Critical review on dewatering of sewage sludge: Influential mechanism, conditioning technologies and implications to sludge re-utilizations. Water Res 180:115912

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao K, Chen Y, Jiang X, Zhou Y (2017) Evaluating filterability of different types of sludge by statistical analysis: The role of key organic compounds in extracellular polymeric substances. Chemosphere 170:233–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao J, Ge D, Yuan H, Zhu N (2020) Waste activated sludge conditioning in a new Fe2+/persulfate/tannic acid process: Effectiveness and optimization study to enhance dewaterability. J Environ Chem Eng 8:103785

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu W, Yang J, Tao S, Shi Y, Yu J, Lv Y, Liang S, Xiao K, Liu B, Hou H (2017) A comparatively optimization of dosages of oxidation agents based on volatile solids and dry solids content in dewatering of sewage sludge. Water Res 126:342–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu W, Wen Q, Yang J, Xiao K, Zhu Y, Tao S, Lv Y, Liang S, Fan W, Zhu S, Liu B, Hou H, Hu J (2019) Unraveling oxidation behaviors for intracellular and extracellular from different oxidants (HOCl vs. H2O2) catalyzed by ferrous iron in waste activated sludge dewatering. Water Res 148:60–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu W, Wen Q, Yang J, Xiao K, Zhu Y, Tao S, Liang S, Hu S, Wu Q, Hou H, Liu B, Hu J (2021) Novel insights into extracellular polymeric substance degradation, hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics, and dewaterability of waste activated sludge pretreated by hydroxylamine enhanced Fenton oxidation. ACS ES&T Engineering 1:385–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Kang H, Zhang Q, Hao X, Han X, Zhang W, Jiao T (2019) The porous structure effects of skeleton builders in sustainable sludge dewatering process. J Environ Manag 230:14–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Shi Q, Li Q, Wang H, Yuan H, Guo W, Lu Y (2020a) Agents for sludge dewatering in fundamental research and applied research: A bibliometric analysis. J Clean Prod 273:122907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Cheng H, Peng S, Li D, Gao H, Wang D (2020b) Performance and mechanisms of wastewater sludge conditioning with slag-based hydrotalcite-like minerals (Ca/Mg/Al-LDH). Water Res 169:115265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhen G, Lu X, Zhao Y, Chai X, Niu D (2012) Enhanced dewaterability of sewage sludge in the presence of Fe(II)-activated persulfate oxidation. Bioresour Technol 116:259–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhen G, Tan Y, Wu T, Wang J, Lu X, Zhao Y, Zhu X, Niu J, Xiong J (2019) Strengthened dewaterability of coke-oven plant oily sludge by altering extracellular organics using Fe(II)-activated persulfate oxidation. Sci Total Environ 688:1155–1161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by doctoral research of launch fund project of Hubei University of Technology (BSQD2016030), National Natural Science Foundation of China youth fund project (51508214), and the Three Gorges follow-up research project (2017HXXY-05).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China

    Xiaoran Li, Yafei Shi, Xi Zhou, Lu Wang, Huiqin Zhang, Kewu Pi & Defu Liu

  2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for River-Lakes and Algal Utilization, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China

    Yafei Shi, Kewu Pi & Defu Liu

  3. Blue Minerals Consultancy, Wattle Grove, Tasmania, 7109, Australia

    Andrea R. Gerson

Authors
  1. Xiaoran Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yafei Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xi Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Huiqin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kewu Pi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Andrea R. Gerson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Defu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Xiaoran Li: Data curation, Writing—original draft preparation, Writing—review & editing.

Yafei Shi: Supervision.

Xi Zhou: Investigation.

Lu Wang: Validation.

Huiqin Zhang: Resources.

Kewu Pi: Conceptualization.

Andrea R. Gerson: Writing—review & editing.

Defu Liu: Project administration.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yafei Shi.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable

Consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Ricardo A. Torres-Palma

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

ESM 1

(DOCX 87.5 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, X., Shi, Y., Zhou, X. et al. Adaptability of organic matter and solid content to Fe2+/persulfate and skeleton builder conditioner for waste activated sludge dewatering. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 14819–14829 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16404-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16404-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation