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Effects of Loosely Bound EPS Release and Floc Reconstruction on Sludge Dewaterability

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Abstract

Loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS) are highly hydrated biopolymers and play important roles in sludge biofloccualtion and dewaterability. Disruption or solubilization of LB-EPS will promote the alternation of sludge structure and the release of trapped water. In the present study, ultrasonication was employed to extract LB-EPS into the supernatant and release trapped water within them. Excellent performance in enhancing ultrasonicated sludge dewatering was observed under the combined Fe3+(20 mg/g dry sludge (DS)) and Ca2+ (30 mg/g DS) addition. The above fact highlighted the probability to enhance the sludge dewaterability by the dosage of small amount of cations. Further, the combined effects of ultrasonication and multivalent cation addition on floc regrowth on sludge dewaterability were investigated and the possible mechanisms involved in the reorganization of sludge structure and the biofloccualtion process were also explored. In conclusion, the combination of ultrasonication and multivalent cation addition was promising to improve sludge dewaterability.

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Abbreviations

WWTP:

Wastewater treatment plants

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

LB-EPS:

Loosely bound EPS

TB-EPS:

Tightly bound EPS

SEPS:

Soluble EPS

MBR:

Membrane bioreactor

TSS:

Total suspended solids

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

SRF:

Specific resistance to filtration

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

RH:

Relative hydrophobicity

MW:

Molecular weight

DS:

Dry sludge

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the National Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51478093 and 51678119) and the Jilin Province Scientific and Technological Planning Project of China (No. 20170519013JH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, 132012, Jilin, People’s Republic of China

    Haifeng Zhang, Xin Lu & Lanhe Zhang

  2. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-1023, USA

    Haifeng Zhang & Lianfa Song

  3. School of Civil and Architecture Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, 132012, Jilin, People’s Republic of China

    Haifeng Zhang, Xin Lu, Lianfa Song & Lanhe Zhang

Authors
  1. Haifeng Zhang
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  2. Xin Lu
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  3. Lianfa Song
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  4. Lanhe Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lanhe Zhang.

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Zhang Haifeng and Lu Xin are co-first authors.

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Zhang, H., Lu, X., Song, L. et al. Effects of Loosely Bound EPS Release and Floc Reconstruction on Sludge Dewaterability. Water Air Soil Pollut 229, 27 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3683-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3683-z

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