Evaluating the stabilisation degree of digested sewage sludge: investigations at four municipal wastewater treatment plants

Further reduction of volatile suspended solids (VSS) during a post-stabilisation step was applied to evaluate the stabilisation degree of digested sewage sludge. For this purpose digested sludge was collected at four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and further stabilised in lab-scale c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2006-01, Vol.53 (8), p.81-90
Main Authors: Parravicini, V, Smidt, E, Svardal, K, Kroiss, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerobic conditions
Aerobiosis
Anaerobic conditions
Anaerobiosis
Analytical methods
Biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biomass
Bioreactors
Cellulose
Composition
Fourier transforms
Infrared spectroscopy
Municipal wastewater
Oxic conditions
Oxygen consumption
Oxygen uptake
Sewage
Sewage - chemistry
Sewage - microbiology
Sewage sludge
Sludge
Sludge digestion
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectrum analysis
Suspended particulate matter
Suspended solids
Uptake
Wastewater
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment plants
Water Purification - methods
Water treatment plants
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Summary:Further reduction of volatile suspended solids (VSS) during a post-stabilisation step was applied to evaluate the stabilisation degree of digested sewage sludge. For this purpose digested sludge was collected at four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and further stabilised in lab-scale chemostat reactors either under anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Experimental results showed that even in adequately digested sludge a consistent amount of VSS was degraded during aerobic post-stabilisation. It seems that aerobic conditions play a significant role during degradation of residual VSS. Additionally, specific VSS production (gVSS/peCOD110.d) as well as specific oxygen uptake rate were shown to be suitable parameters to assess the degree of sludge stabilisation at WWTPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to reveal changes in the sludge composition. Spectra of treated and untreated sludge samples indicated that the major component of residual VSS in stabilised sludge for instance consisted of biomass, while cellulose was absent.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2006.238