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Gravity Thickening

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Biosolids Treatment Processes

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA

    Nazih K. Shammas PhD (Professor and Environmental Engineering Consultant and Ex-Dean and Director) & Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director and Assistant to the President and Vice President)

  2. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA

    Nazih K. Shammas PhD (Professor and Environmental Engineering Consultant and Ex-Dean and Director) & Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director and Assistant to the President and Vice President)

  3. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, NY

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director and Assistant to the President and Vice President)

Authors
  1. Nazih K. Shammas PhD
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  2. Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, NY

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE

  2. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  3. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH

    Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Shammas, N.K., Wang, L.K. (2007). Gravity Thickening. In: Wang, L.K., Shammas, N.K., Hung, YT. (eds) Biosolids Treatment Processes. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 6. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-996-7_2

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