SEWAGE TREATMENT

CHAPTER SIX :SLUDGE TREATMENT

AND DISPOSAL
BY ROMAN A.
 Objective of the chapter
• To understand sludge and their sources
• To know the importance of sludge treatment.
• To identify sludge digestion stages.
 Introduction
 Sludge refers to the residual, semi-solid material left from
sewage treatment processes or it is the mixture of waste water
and settled solids.
 Depending upon the source it may be primary, secondary,
excess activated sludge.
 The sludge, which is deposited in a primary sedimentation
tank, is called raw sludge; and the
 Sludge which is deposited in a secondary clarifier is called
Secondary Sludge.
 CONT..
The main objectives of sludge treatment are, as follows:
 Reduction in the volume of sludge for disposal by removing some
of the water,
Volume reduction: -Thickening
-Dewatering
 Restriction of pathogenic
organisms, Elimination of
pathogenic
germs : If used in agriculture as fertilizer or compost.
 Stabilization of organic substances: -Gas production,
- Reduction of dry
content
-Improvement of
dewatering
 Disposal of the sludge in a safe and aesthetically
acceptable manner.
Recycling of substances : -Reduction of odour
 Sludge and Its Moisture Content
Raw sludge
 Odorous, contains highly putrescible organic matter, and very
objectionable.
 Moisture content is about 95%.
Secondary sludge
Contain putrescible, but less objectionable compare to raw
sewage.
Moisture content 96 -98% (trickling filter ) and 98% -
99%(activated sludge plant).
 Example
1. A sedimentation tank is treating 4.5 million liters of sewage
per day containing 275mg/l of suspended solids. The tank
removes 50% of suspended solids. Calculate the quantity of
sludge roduced per day in bulk and weight, if:
(b) moisture content of sludge is 98%
(c) moisture content of sludge is 96%
Solution
• Volume of sewage treated = 4.5*106litres/day
• Since suspended solids amount to 275mg/l, the weight of
suspended solids present in sewage
275 ∗ 4.5
= ∗ 106 kg/day = 1237.5kg/day
106
 CONT.
. in sedimentation tank,
Since 50% of solids are removed
The wt. of solids removed in sedimentation tank
= 1237.5 ∗ 50 = 618.75kg/day
100

a. When moisture content of sludge is 98%, then 2kg of

solids (dry
sludge) will make = 100kg of wet sludge
Therefore, 618.75kg of100
solids (dry sludge) will make
= ∗ 618.75 = 30940kg
2
Hence, wet sludge or sludge produced = 30,940 kg per day =
30.94 tonnes per day
Assuming the sp. gravity of wet sludge (sludge) as 1.02,
Unit wt. of sludge = 1.02t/m3
Vol. of wet sludge produced per day
Wt 30.94
= = = 30.33 m3
unit wt 1.02
 CONT.
.
• Vol. of sludge (when its moisture content is 98%) = 30.33m3
•Hence, the vol. of sludge when its moisture content is 98% =
30.33cu.m
b. When moisture content is 96%, then 4 kg of solids will
make 1= 100kg of wet sludge
• Therefore, 618.75kg of solids will make
= 100
4
∗ 618.75 = 15468.75kg of wet sludge 15,470kg of wet
sludge = 15.47tonnes of wet sludge
•Hence, wt. of sludge (when its moisture content is 96%)
= 15.47tonnes.
 CONT.
. then Vol. of sludge (when its moisture
•If sp. gravity of sludge is 1.02,
content is 96%)
15.47
= = 15.17m3
1.02
• Hence, the vol. of sludge at 96% moisture content =
15.17cu. m.
Note: It shows that the sludge is reduced to half its
volume when its
moisture content is lowered from 98% to 96%.

2. There is sewage sludge with volume containing a certain

moisture content p1 (percent). What will be the volume of this
sludge if its moisture content is reduced to p (percent).
 CONT.
Solution .
•Let the given sewage contains solids = W kg. Let its volume be
V 1 at a moisture content of p1 (percent), and V at a moisture
content of p (percent).
• At moisture content of p1,
(100 – p1 ) kg of solids will make = 100kg of wet sludge
• W kg of solids will make
100 ∗ W
= kg of wet sludge
(100 − p1)
• Or Wt. of sludge produced
100 ∗ W
= kg
(100 − p1)
• If s is the unit wt. of sludge, in kg/m3 , then
 CONT.
• Vol. of sludge produced .
100 ∗ W 1
= ∗ 1
(100 − p1) γs
• At moisture content of p (percent),
m3 similarly,
=V
• Vol. of sludge produced (V)
100 ∗ W 1
V= ∗ 3
(100 − p) γs m
• From equation (i),
100 − p1 ∗ V1 ∗ γs
W=
100
• From equation (ii),
W = 100 − p ∗ V ∗ γs
• Equating (iii) and (iv), 100
100 − p1 ∗ V1 ∗ γs 100 − p ∗ V ∗ γs
100 =
100 − p 1100
V = V1
100 − p
 Sludge digestion Process
The process of stabilization of organic matter in anaerobic
condition is called the sludge digestion. In the process, sludge
gets broken into the following three forms:
Digested sludge
It is a stable humus like solid matter, black in color, and with
reduced moisture content, and, is therefore, having reduced
volume.
Supernatant liquor
 It includes the liquefied and finely divided solid
matter, and is having high BOD (about 3000ppm).
Gases of decomposition: can be generated ;hydrogen
sulphide carbon dioxide (30%), nitrogen and methane(65-
70%)
The digested sludge is dewatered, dried up, and used as
fertilizer; while the gases produced are also used for fuel or
for driving gas engines.
 Stages in the Sludge Digestion Process
Three distinct stages have been found to occur in the
biological action involved in the natural process of
sludge digestion. These stages are:
(i) Acid fermentation
(ii) Acid regression
(iii) Alkaline fermentation
(i) Acid fermentation/acid production
 anaerobic and facultative bacteria (acid formers) acts.
These organisms solubilize the organic solids through
hydrolysis.
The soluble products are the fermented to volatile acids and
organic alcohols of low molecular weight like propionic
acid, acetic acid, etc.
 CONT.
.
Gases like methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphides
are also evolved.
 Intensive acid production makes the sludge highly acidic, and
lowers the Ph values to less than 6.
Highly putrefactive odours are evolved during this stage,
which continues for about 15 days or so (at about 21oc). BOD
of the sludge increases to some extent, during this stage.
 CONT.
. intermediate stage, the volatile organic acids
ii. Acid regression stage. In this
and nitrogenous compounds of the first stage, are attacked by the bacteria, so
as to form acid carbonates and ammonia compounds.

 Small amounts of hydrogen sulphides and carbon-dioxide gases are

also given off.

 The decomposed sludge has a very offensive odour, and its Ph value
rises at little, and to be about 6.8.

 The decomposed sludge, also, entraps the gases of decomposed,

becomes
foamy, and rises to the surface to form sum.

 This stage continues for a period of about 3 months or so (at about

21oc). BOD of the sludge remains high even during this stage.
 CONT.
iii) Alkaline fermentation .stage. In this final stage of sludge
digestion, more resistant materials like proteins and organic acids are
attacked and broken up by an aerobic bacterium, called methane
formers, into simple substances like ammonia, organic acids and
gases.
 liquid separates out from the solids, and the digested sludge is
formed. This sludge is granular and stable, and does not give
offensive odours.
 Digested sludge is alkaline in nature.

 The Ph value during this stage rises to a little above 7(about 7.5 or
so) in the alkaline range.
 CONT.
. of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and
Along with small amount
evolved during this stage.
This stage extends for a period of about one month or so (at
about 21oc). The BOD of the sludge also rapidly falls down
during this stage.
The important factors which affect the process of sludge
digestion, and are, therefore, controlled in a digestion tank,
are:
1. Temperature
2. pH value
3. Seeding with digested sludge
4. Mixing and stirring of the raw sludge with digested sludge
 CONT.
 Temperature: .
the rate of digestion increase at high temperature.
 pH value :
 Should not lower below 6.5
 The optimum value 7.2-7.4(in final stage )
 The acidity increases due to
 The overdosing of raw sludge;
 The over withdrawal of digested sludge; and
 T he sudden admission of industrial wastes.
Remedy ,add hydrated lime (2.3-4.5 kg per 1000person to raw
sludge)
 CONT.
.
 Seeding with digested sludge
 Seed with digested sludge from another tank .
 Seed up with digestion process.
 Mixing and stirring of the raw sludge with digested sludge
Proper agitation methods mixes raw and digested sludge to
form homogeneous mass of sludge.
Bacterial enzymes present in digested sludge gets thoroughly
mixed up – helps in better decomposition.
 Sludge Digestion Tank or Digesters
Design considerations
 Cylindrical in shape, circular in plan – dia 3 to 12m
 Slope of bottom hopper floor – 1:1 to 1:3
 Depth of digestion tank – 6m
 Except in large plants not more than 2 units are provided.
 The capacity provided ranges from 21 to 61 lpcd.
If the progress of sludge digestion is assumed to be linear, then
capacity of digestor (in cu.m) is

Where, V1 = raw sludge added per day, cu.m/d

V2 = equivalent digested sludge produced per day, on
completion of
digestion V2 = (V1/3)
t = digestion periods in days
CONT.
.
 CONT..
When the daily digested sludge could not be removed, even
though digestion gets completed , then consider separate
capacity .(Monsoon Storage)
Thus total capacity
 Realistic case: When the change during digestion is
assumed
to be parabolic then the average volume of digesting sludge
 Then, total capacity without monsoon storage

 And total capacity with monsoon storage

 CONT.
.
• The capacity of the sludge digestion tank calculated
above
may also be modified for the following additional factors:
i) amount of sludge withdrawn and its interval
(ii) provision of adequate free-board at top
(iii) storage for winter
(iv) type of pre-treatment given to fresh sludge
(v) collection of gas; etc.
The capacity provided per capita may range between 21 to
61 liters per capita (taking into account the usual one month
digestion period) as shown in Table.
 CONT..
Design Capacities of the Digestion Tanks on Per Capita Basis
 CONT.
• Estimated Gas Production .The gas produced usually contains 65%
methane, 30% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases. The
heat content of methane is approximately 36000kJ/m3 (8800kC/m3).
Two Stage Digestion
 In two stage digestion, two digestion tanks, called primary

and secondary digesters, are used.

 Detention time for primary digester tank is 7-10days where

as for secondary digestion tank is 20days or so.

Two stage digestion gives the following advantages compared to
single stage digestion:
 Avoids short circuit

 Better treatment

 Cost effective
 CONT..
 Drying of the digested sludge on open beds of land (called
sludge drying beds) is quite suitable for hot countries.
 A portion of the moisture drains through the bed, while
most of it is evaporated to the atmosphere.
 It usually takes about two weeks to two months, for drying
the sludge, depending on the weather and condition of the
bed.
 Approximate area of Drying beds for different types of
sludge
 CONT.
.
Mechanical Methods of Dewatering Sludge
 vacuum filtration process
 High-speed centrifuges (better due to small area requirement)
 Elutriation of sludge
is the process of washing the sludge water, to remove the organic
and fatty acids from it. Sometimes, before dewatering, the sludge
is thickened or conditioned, and then elutriated.
Disposal of Dewatered Sludge
 Dumping into the Sea
 Burial into the Trenches
 Incineration
 fertilizer
 CONT..
Lagoons for Disposal of Raw Sludge
 detention period is l to 2 months, and

 may extend up to 6 months

 the sludge undergoes anaerobic digestion thereby

getting
stabilized
 Example
Design a digestion tank for the primary sludge with the help of
following data:
(i) Average flow = 20*106l/d;
(ii)Total suspended solids in raw sewage = 300mg/l;
(iii)Moisture content of digested sludge = 85%.
Assume any other suitable data you require.
Solution
Average sewage flow = 20*106l/d
Total suspended solids = 300mg/l
Mass of suspended solids in 20*106 liter of sewage flowing per day
300 ∗ 20 ∗ 106
= kg = 6000kg/day
10 6
Assuming that 65% solids are removed in primary settling tanks,
Wt. of solids removed in the primary settling tank
= 65% ∗ 6000 kg/day = 3900 kg/day
 CONT.
Assuming that the fresh sludge. has moisture content of 95%,
5 kg of dry solids will make = 100 kg of wet sludge and
3900 kg of dry solids will make
100
= ∗ 3900 kg of wet sludge per day
5
= 78,000 kg of wet sludge per day
•Assuming the sp. gravity of wet sludge as 1.02; i.e. Density =
1020kg/m3,
• The volume of raw sludge produced/day
78000
= V1= m3/day = 76.4 7m3/day
1020
•The volume of the digested sludge (V2) at 85% moisture content is
given by the formula as:
100 − p1
V = V1 100 − p
100 − 95
V = V1
100 − 85
1 1
V = 1 = ∗ 76.4 7 = 25.49 m3 /day
3 3
V
 CONT.
•Assuming the digestion period. as 30 days, we have the capacity of
the required digestion tank, given by Eqn. as:
V1 − 2 V1 − V 2 ∗
Capacity = V = 3
2 t
= 76.47 − 76.47 − 25.49 ∗ 30 = 1274.5 𝑚 3
3
• Providing 6.0 m depth of the cylindrical digestion tank, we
have
• Cross-sectional area of 12675
= the tank= 212.5m2
6
• Diameter of tank
212.5
= π = 16.45 m ≈ 16.5 m
4
• Hence, provide a cylindrical sludge digestion
tank (typical section
shown in Fig. 6m deep and 16.5m diameter, with an additional
hoppered bottom of 1:1 slope for collection of digested
sludge