Ultrasonic pre-treatment of biological sludge: consequences for disintegration, anaerobic biodegradability, and filterability

Erden G., Filibeli A.

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, vol.85, no.1, pp.145-150, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 85 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/jctb.2298
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.145-150
  • Keywords: anaerobic biodegradability, biological sludge, filterability, floc disintegration
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Disintegration was developed as a pretreatment process for sludge to accelerate the digestion processes. Ultrasonic treatment may be a good alternative for sludge disintegration. In this study, different specific energy inputs ranged between 0 and 15 880 kJ kg(-1) and very low ultrasonic densities ranged between 0.04 and 0.1 W mL(-1) were applied to biological sludge for disintegration purposes. The potential for improving anaerobic digestion through ultrasonic pre-treatment and the effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on the filterability characteristics of sludge were also investigated.