0000000000853539
AUTHOR
Ludovico Pontoni
Dewaterability of CAS and MBR Sludge: Effect of Biological Stability and EPS Composition
The dewaterability of sludge from two conventional activated sludge (CAS) and three membrane bioreactor (MBR)-based wastewater treatment plants is investigated prior to and after anaerobic digestion. The concentration and composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) mostly affect the dewaterability of all raw sludge samples. Better sludge dewaterability is observed when the concentration of proteins, carbohydrates, uronic acids, and humic acids is below approximately 400, 250, 200, and 40 mg/L, respectively. In contrast, the specific resistance to filtration (SRF) increases in the sludge samples with a higher EPS concentration. The MBR results in a lower EPS production and a uron…
A novel comprehensive procedure for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from water resource recovery facilities
The emissions of the major greenhouse gases (GHGs), i.e. carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) are of increasing concern in the water industry. In order to produce useful and comparable information for monitoring, assessing, and reporting GHG emissions from WRRFs, there is a need for a generally accepted methodology for their quantification. This paper aims at proposing the first protocol for monitoring and accounting for GHG emissions from WRRFs, taking into account both direct and indirect internal emissions and focusing the attention on plant sections known to be primarily responsible for GHG emissions (i.e. oxidation…
Membrane bioreactors sludge: From production to disposal
Abstract This chapter reviews the MBR activated sludge from production to disposal. Starting from sludge characterization, the chapter first presents the features of MBR sludge (morphology and EPS chemical composition), also in terms of differences with the activated sludge from conventional activated sludge plants. Sludge dewaterability is then discussed, focusing on the differences between aerobically and anaerobically digested sludge. An analysis of the costs related to MBR sludge treatment and disposal also is presented in order to provide a framework for a sustainable MBR sludge management.