Gravity Thickening

  • Nazih K. Shammas
  • Lawrence K. Wang
Chapter
Part of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering book series (HEE, volume 6)

Abstract

Thickening is defined as removal of water from sludge to achieve a reduction in moisture content of slurries. The resulting material is still fluid. Thickening is used at most wastewater treatment plants, as an economic measure, to reduce the volume of sludge or for greater efficiency in subsequent processes. Sludges are thickened primarily to decrease the capital and operating costs of subsequent sludge processing steps by substantially reducing the volume. Thickening from 1 to 2% solids concentration, for example, halves the sludge volume. Further concentration to 5% solids, reduces the volume to one-fifth of its original volume.

Keywords

Solid Concentration Hydraulic Loading Primary Sludge Detention Time Sludge Management 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Nazih K. Shammas
    • 1
    • 2
  • Lawrence K. Wang
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
  1. 1.Lenox Institute of Water TechnologyLenox
  2. 2.Krofta Engineering CorporationLenox
  3. 3.Zorex CorporationNewtonville

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