Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering

The minimization of sludge produced by municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) is critical as its handling accounts for approximately 50% of the total operating cost. The challenges in predicting dewatering performance can be overcome by optimizing the sludge treatment process, especially con...

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Main Authors: Megan Abrahams, Mujahid Aziz, Godwill Kasongo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2021-07-01
Series:Water Practice and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/16/3/991
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author Megan Abrahams
Mujahid Aziz
Godwill Kasongo
author_facet Megan Abrahams
Mujahid Aziz
Godwill Kasongo
author_sort Megan Abrahams
collection DOAJ
description The minimization of sludge produced by municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) is critical as its handling accounts for approximately 50% of the total operating cost. The challenges in predicting dewatering performance can be overcome by optimizing the sludge treatment process, especially conditioning and dewatering. This study aimed to investigate sludge dewaterability at four different MWWTPs, using a gravity drainage test unit and a bench-scale press. The effect of differently treated effluent used as a solvent to mix the flocculation polymers was observed during dewatering. The membrane bioreactor (MBR) treated effluent yielded the highest filtrate volume in the lowest amount of time, with the least polymer flocculant dosage. The Box Behnken Design model fitted the data and proved a relationship between polymer dosage, cake solids concentration, and cake height during the bench-scale press tests. Highlights The type of water used for polymer flocculant dissolution has, to an extent, a considerable impact on the gravity drainage of the sludge.; Increasing polymer flocculant dosing is not directly proportional to the cake height and cake dryness.; Significant correlation between sludge characteristics (e.g. feed solids) and the cake formed.;
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spelling doaj.art-47b1ac00331940738f940f06530fdf072022-12-21T23:00:28ZengIWA PublishingWater Practice and Technology1751-231X2021-07-0116399199910.2166/wpt.2021.046046Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewateringMegan Abrahams0Mujahid Aziz1Godwill Kasongo2 Environmental Engineering Research Group (EnvERG), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Bellville 7435, Cape Town, South Africa Environmental Engineering Research Group (EnvERG), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Bellville 7435, Cape Town, South Africa Environmental Engineering Research Group (EnvERG), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Bellville 7435, Cape Town, South Africa The minimization of sludge produced by municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) is critical as its handling accounts for approximately 50% of the total operating cost. The challenges in predicting dewatering performance can be overcome by optimizing the sludge treatment process, especially conditioning and dewatering. This study aimed to investigate sludge dewaterability at four different MWWTPs, using a gravity drainage test unit and a bench-scale press. The effect of differently treated effluent used as a solvent to mix the flocculation polymers was observed during dewatering. The membrane bioreactor (MBR) treated effluent yielded the highest filtrate volume in the lowest amount of time, with the least polymer flocculant dosage. The Box Behnken Design model fitted the data and proved a relationship between polymer dosage, cake solids concentration, and cake height during the bench-scale press tests. Highlights The type of water used for polymer flocculant dissolution has, to an extent, a considerable impact on the gravity drainage of the sludge.; Increasing polymer flocculant dosing is not directly proportional to the cake height and cake dryness.; Significant correlation between sludge characteristics (e.g. feed solids) and the cake formed.;http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/16/3/991activated sludgecationic polymerdewateringflocculantgravity drainagesludge treatment
spellingShingle Megan Abrahams
Mujahid Aziz
Godwill Kasongo
Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
Water Practice and Technology
activated sludge
cationic polymer
dewatering
flocculant
gravity drainage
sludge treatment
title Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
title_full Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
title_fullStr Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
title_short Investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
title_sort investigating the effects of different cationic charge flocculation polymers on municipal wastewater sludge dewatering
topic activated sludge
cationic polymer
dewatering
flocculant
gravity drainage
sludge treatment
url http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/16/3/991
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AT godwillkasongo investigatingtheeffectsofdifferentcationicchargeflocculationpolymersonmunicipalwastewatersludgedewatering