Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of factors on dewaterability of one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobically digested sludges

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One-stage auto thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) could achieve the same sludge stabilization efficiency as two- or multi-stage ATAD process does. However, the dewaterability of sludge might be affected through thermophilic digestion because of the release of intracellular substances under the thermophilic temperatures. This paper investigated which operation factors affect intracellular substances released in the liquid phase of sludge that lead to different extent of dewaterability. The results showed that optimal digestion time needs to be prolonged up to 480 h to avoid a deteriorated dewaterability phase. The deterioration in dewaterability of the sludge could be minimized at a retention time of 360 h (i.e., 15 days) under a digestion temperature of 65 °C. Specific capillary suction time (SCST) had quadratic correlations with SCOD, protein (PN) and polysaccharides (PS) in the liquid phase. The coefficient between SCST and the ratio of PN/PS had a value of 0.9764, indicating that the sludge dewaterability was significantly deteriorated by biopolymer of protein and polysaccharides in supernatant.

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
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwal S, Abu-Orf M, Novak JT (2005) Sequential polymer dosing for effective dewatering of ATAD sludges. Water Res 39:1301–1310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association/American Water Works Association/Water Environment Federation, Washington USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Banat FA, Precht SB, Bischof F (1999) Experimental assessment of bio-reduction of Di-2-thylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) under aerobic thermophilic conditions. Chemosphere 39:2097–2106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banat FA, Precht SB, Bischof F (2000) Aerobic thermophilic treatment of sewage sludge contaminated with 4-nony1-pheno1. Chemosphere 41:297–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng JH (2006) The study of sewage sludge treatment by autothermal thermophilic (micro) aerobic digestion process. Tongji University, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng JH, Zhou QF, Zhu NW (2008) Effect of autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion operation on reactor temperatures. The 2nd International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering (Environmental Pollution and Public Health Track). Shanghai, China

  • Cheng JH, Zhang YY, Zhu NW, Liu SG (2011) The study of sludge characteristics for one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion process. Adv Mater Res 236–238:437–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coelho NMG, Droste RL, Kennedy KJ (2011) Evaluation of continuous mesophilic, thermophilic and temperature phased anaerobic digestion of microwaved activated sludge. Water Res 45:2822–2834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eskicioglu C, Kennedy KJ, Droste RL (2006) Characterization of soluble organic matter of waste activated sludge before and after thermal pretreatment. Water Res 40:3725–3736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng X, Deng JC, Lei HY, Bai T, Fan QJ, Li ZX (2009) Dewaterability of waste activated sludge with ultrasound conditioning. Bioresour Technol 100:1074–1081

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haner A, Mason CA, Hamer G (1994) Death and lysis during aerobic thermophilic sludge treatment characterization of recalcitrant products. Water Res 28:863–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton JI, Stephenson T (2002) Effect of influent organic content on digested sludge EPS content and dewaterability. Water Res 36(14):3620–3628

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin B, Wilen BM, Lant P (2004) Impacts of morphological, physical and chemical properties of sludge flocs on dewaterability of activated sludge. Chem Eng J 98:115–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly HG, Melcer H, Mavinic DS (1993) Autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion of municipal sludges: a one-year, full-scale demonstration project. Water Environ Res 65:849–861

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Layden MN, Mavinic DC, Kelly HG, Moles R (2007) Autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD)—part I: review of origins, design, and process operation. J Environ Eng Sci 6:665–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YH, Fang HP (2003) Influences of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on flocculation, settling, and dewatering of activated sludge. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 33:237–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SG, Song FY, Zhu NW, Yuan HP, Cheng JH (2010) Chemical and microbial changes during autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) of sewage sludge. Bioresour Technol 101:9438–9444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SG, Zhu NW, Li LY (2011) The one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion for sewage sludge treatment. Chem Eng J 174:564–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SG, Zhu NW, Li LY (2012a) The one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion for sewage sludge treatment: stabilization process and mechanism. Bioresour Technol 104:266–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SG, Zhu NW, Ning P, Li LY, Gong X (2012b) The one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion for sewage sludge treatment: effects of temperature on stabilization process and sludge properties. Chem Eng J 197:223–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoud N, Zeeman G, Gijzen H, Letting G (2004) Anaerobic stabilisation and conversion of biopolymers in primary sludge-effect of temperature and sludge retention time. Water Res 38:983–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen LH, Keiding K (2002) Physico-chemical characteristics of full scale sewage sludges with implications to dewatering. Water Res 36:2451–2462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murthy SN, Novak JT, Holbrook RD, Surovik F (2000) Mesophilic aeration of autothermal thermophilic aerobically digested biosolids to improve plant operations. Water Environ Res 72:476–483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nosrati M, Sreekrishnan TR, Mukhopadhyay SN (2007) Energy audit, solids reduction and pathogen inactivation in secondary sludges during batch thermophilic aerobic digestion process. J Environ Eng 133:477–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novak JT, Sadler ME, Murthy SN (2003) Mechanisms of floc destruction during anaerobic and aerobic digestion and the effect on conditioning and dewatering of biosolids. Water Res 37:3136–3144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascale C, Li CJ (2009) Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic municipal wastewater treatment process residuals as feedstocks for the recovery of simple sugars. Bioresour Technol 100:5700–5706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piterina AV, Bartlett J, Pembroke JT (2011) Morphological characterization of ATAD thermophilic sludge; sludge ecology and settleability. Water Res 45:3427–3438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sa′nchez JB, Alonso Quiroga JM, Oviedo Coello MD (2006) Use of microbial activity parameters for determination of a biosolid stability index. Bioresour Technol 97:562–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saurabh A (2004) Conditioning and dewatering behavior of ATAD sludges. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, Virginia

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz M (2005) Review of recent trends in capillary suction time (CST) dewaterability testing. Ind Eng Chem Res 44:8157–8163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SEPAC GB18918-2002 (2002) Discharge standards for pollutants from municipal wastewater treatment plants. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing, China

  • Shao LM, He PP, Yu GH (2009) Effect of proteins, polysaccharides, and particle sizes on sludge dewaterability. J Environ Sci 21:83–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staton KL, Alleman JE, Pressley RL, Eloff J (2001) Second generation autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion: Conceptual issues and process advancements. San Diego, WEF/AWWA/CWEA Joint Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1990) Autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion of municipal wastewater sludge. Washington, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/625/10-90/007

  • USEPA (1992) Control of pathogens and vector attraction in sewage treatment. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC. Report EPA/625/R-92/013

  • Ye FX, Ye YF, Li Y (2011) Effect of C/N ratio on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and physicochemical properties of activated sludge flocs. J Hazard Mater 188:37–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin X, Han PF, Lu XP, Wang YR (2004) A review on the dewaterability of bio-sludge and ultrasound pre-treatmen. Ultrason Sonochem 11:337–348

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu GH, He PJ, Shao LM et al (2008) Stratification structure of sludge flocs with implications to dewaterability. Environ Sci Technol 42:7944–7949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang PY, Zhang GM, Wang W (2007) Ultrasonic treatment of biological sludge: floc disintegration, cell lysis and inactivation. Bioresour Technol 98:207–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JP (2003) Factors influencing dewaterability of thermophilic aerobically digested biosolids. University of British Columbia, Vancouver

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JP, Mavinic DS, Kelly HG, Ramey WD (2002) Effects of temperatures and extracellular proteins on dewaterability of thermophilically digested biosolids. J Environ Eng Sci 1:409–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study has been supported by Jiangsu Overseas Research & Training Program for University Prominent Young & Middle-aged Teachers and Presidents, the item of Jiangsu Province “333 Hi-Class personnel training programme” (No. BRA2011185), the National Natural Science Fund (No. 51208305) and the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863) (No. 2011AA060906).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213001, China

    Jiehong Cheng & Feng Kong

  2. Energy and Environment Division, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Rd, Pudong District, Shanghai, 201210, China

    Liang Wang

  3. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Yuehong Ji

  4. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Nanwen Zhu

Authors
  1. Jiehong Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuehong Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nanwen Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Feng Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiehong Cheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cheng, J., Wang, L., Ji, Y. et al. The influence of factors on dewaterability of one-stage autothermal thermophilic aerobically digested sludges. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 30, 639–647 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1487-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1487-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation