Sludge Drying Treatment
The treatment of wastewater produces sludge, which can be classified into two categories: raw primary sludge and secondary sludge. Several methods are commonly employed to process sludge resulting from wastewater treatment. The following are some of the most frequently used techniques.
Sludge resulting from wastewater treatment generally has a water content ranging between 97% and 99.5%. Sludge thickening is a method that increases the solid content of sludge by minimizing the water content with low energy input. This process typically takes place in a gravity thickener tank, and it is considered one of the simplest ways to reduce the water content of sludge while consuming minimal energy. By employing this method, the total volume of sludge can be reduced to less than half of its original volume.
The objective of dewatering is to decrease the water content in sludge to approximately 20% while maintaining the solid content. This approach allows the sludge to be managed as a solid material. Mechanical dewatering can be achieved through various methods, such as using a Decanter, filter press, or Screw Press, or by utilizing drying beds. Among these techniques, sludge drying beds offer a straightforward dewatering approach. The process involves spreading digested sludge slurry on an open sand bed, and the water is removed through a combination of evaporation and gravity drainage via the sand.
The thermal drying process involves applying thermal energy to the sludge to facilitate water evaporation. This process is useful in reducing the volume of the sludge, making storage, transportation, packaging, and retailing easier. The procedure of drying sludge typically comprises of two techniques: direct and indirect drying. However, in recent times, indirect thermal drying has become more prevalent as it allows for the reduction of the sludge volume by extracting the moisture content and attaining a dry solids content of approximately 90%. This approach minimizes the environmental impact, creates a stabilized dry granular product that is simple to store and deliver, and is ideal for agricultural use.