<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The article presents the results of determining the most appropriate conditions of microwave sludge pre-treatment (500-1200 W), prior to its anaerobic digestion in a continuous mode. The assessment of the pre-treatment conditions (microwave power, sludge temperature after pre-treatment) was based on: the release of organic (COD, protein) and inorganic (NH4+, PO43-) substances into liquid, the quantity of methane produced, sludge higienisation and the susceptibility of the pre-treated sludge to dewatering. The power of the microwaves applied did not play significant role on the pre-treatment effectiveness. Taking into account the fact that sludge pre-treatment by microwave irradiation requires the delivery of energy, the pre-treatment by microwaves of higher power (1200 W) and resulting in sludge temperature of 70°C was recommended for further experiments. Sludge pre-treatment by means of microwave irradiation as a pre-treatment step influenced the effectiveness of the subsequent anaerobic digestion, conducted in continuous conditions, in a positive way. The largest amount of biogas was obtained for HRT in the range of 15-20 days. As compared to the sludge which did not undergo pre-treatment, daily biogas production and biogas yield increased by 18-41% and 13-35% respectively. The combination of microwave pre-treatment and mesophilic anaerobic digestion ensured the elimination of pathogens (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli).</abstract>

The article presents the results of determining the most appropriate conditions of microwave sludge pre-treatment (500-1200 W), prior to its anaerobic digestion in a continuous mode. The assessment of the pre-treatment conditions (microwave power, sludge temperature after pre-treatment) was based on: the release of organic (COD, protein) and inorganic (NH4+, PO43-) substances into liquid, the quantity of methane produced, sludge higienisation and the susceptibility of the pre-treated sludge to dewatering. The power of the microwaves applied did not play significant role on the pre-treatment effectiveness. Taking into account the fact that sludge pre-treatment by microwave irradiation requires the delivery of energy, the pre-treatment by microwaves of higher power (1200 W) and resulting in sludge temperature of 70°C was recommended for further experiments. Sludge pre-treatment by means of microwave irradiation as a pre-treatment step influenced the effectiveness of the subsequent anaerobic digestion, conducted in continuous conditions, in a positive way. The largest amount of biogas was obtained for HRT in the range of 15-20 days. As compared to the sludge which did not undergo pre-treatment, daily biogas production and biogas yield increased by 18-41% and 13-35% respectively. The combination of microwave pre-treatment and mesophilic anaerobic digestion ensured the elimination of pathogens (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli).

Influence of Microwave Pre-Treatment on the Digestion and Higienisation of Waste Activated Sludge/Wpływ Dezintegracji Mikrofalowej Na Proces Fermentacji Oraz Higienizacji Nadmiernych Osadów Ściekowych

Institute of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Institute of Environmental Protection and Engineering, Faculty of Materials and Environmental Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, ul. Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The article presents the results of determining the most appropriate conditions of microwave sludge pre-treatment (500-1200 W), prior to its anaerobic...

Influence of Microwave Pre-Treatment on the Digestion and Higienisation of Waste Activated Sludge/Wpływ Dezintegracji Mikrofalowej Na Proces Fermentacji Oraz Higienizacji Nadmiernych Osadów Ściekowych

Published Online: Oct 10, 2014

Page range: 447 - 464

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eces-2014-0033

© by Mariusz Kuglarz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.