Ewa Zielewicz

Heavy metals and its chemical speciation in sewage sludge at different stages of processing

ABSTRACT The analysis of heavy metal concentrations and forms in sewage sludge constitutes an important issue in terms of both health and environmental hazards the metals pose. The total heavy metals concentration enables only the assessment of its contamination. Hence the knowledge of chemical forms is required to determine their environmental mobility and sludge final disposal. Heavy metals speciation was studied by using four-stage sequential extraction BCR (Community Bureau of Reference). This study was aimed at determining the total concentration of selected heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg) and their chemical forms (except for Hg) in sludge collected at different stages of its processing at two municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in southern Poland. Metals contents in sludge samples were determined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). This study shows that Zn and Cu appeared to be the most abundant in sludge, while Cd and Hg were in the lowest concentrations. The sewage sludge revealed the domination of immobile fractions over the mobile ones. The oxidizable and residual forms were dominant for all the heavy metals. There was also a significant difference in metals speciation between sludges of different origin which was probably due to differences in wastewater composition and processes occurring in biological stage of wastewater treatment. The results indicate a negligible capability of metals to migrate from sludge into the environment. Our research revealed a significant impact of thickening, stabilization and hygienization on the distribution of heavy metals in sludge and their mobility.

The effect of ultrasonic disintegration process conditions on the physicochemical characteristics of excess sludge

Abstract Ultrasonic disintegration, as a method of sludge pre-treatment (before the stabilization process), causes changes in their physicochemical characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of ultrasonic disintegration conditions (sonication) on the changes in the physicochemical characteristics of sonicated sludge, i.e. an increase in the content of organic substances in the supernatant, sludge dewaterability and flocs structure. Thickened and non-thickened excess sludge from the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Gliwice was disintegrated. The process was conducted, using a high-power disintegrator equipped with a lenticular horn. In order to determine the most favorable conditions, the sewage sludge was sonicated at a wave frequency of f=25 kHz (as a function of time), with a different samples volume (V1=0.5 and V2=1 L) and emitter position of 1 and the 2.5 cm from the bottom of the chamber in which the process was conducted. The disintegration of sewage sludge was carried out with a specific energy density (EV) in the range from 10 to 30 kWh/m3. The evaluation of the disintegration effects was based on changes in the physicochemical characteristics of the sludge and/or supernatant at the end of the process, expressed by commonly used and author’s disintegration indicators. The best results were obtained for the sludge disintegrated with a volume of V2=1 L and the emitter position of 2.5 cm from the bottom of the chamber. The study confirms that in various operating conditions of ultrasonic disintegration, there is a possibility for obtaining different effects which may influence the course of anaerobic stabilization and quality of the final products of the process.

Effects of ultrasonic disintegration of excess sludge obtained in disintegrators of different constructions

The ultrasonic disintegration of excess sludge is placed after the mechanical thickening but before the digestion tanks in order to intensify the process of sludge stabilization. The effects obtained directly after ultrasonic disintegration depend on many factors and can be grouped in two main categories: factors affecting the quality of sludge and those associated with the construction of disintegrators and its parameters. The ultrasonic disintegration research was carried out using three types of structural solutions of disintegrators. Two of them, that is, WK-2000 ultrasonic generator (P = 400 W) working with a thin sonotrode and WK-2010 ultrasonic generator (P = 100–1000 W) working with a new type construction emitter lens sonotrode, were compared with the influence of a washer with a flat emitter. The investigations have shown that in the same sludge, using the same value of volumetric energy, the resulting effect depends on the construction of the ultrasonic disintegrator, that is, design of the head and the ratio between the field of the emitter and the field of the chamber in sonicated medium.

The impact of temporal variability of excess sludge characteristics on the effects obtained in the process of its ultrasonic disintegration

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to indicate the characteristics of excess sludge, which have the greatest impact on the effects obtained during its ultrasonic disintegration (UD). The direct and technological effects observed after sludge disintegration and anaerobic digestion (AD) depend on the factors affecting the quality of its matrix and simply on the parameters of a disintegrator. Sludge samples originate from a Central Waste Water Treatment Plant in Gliwice, and were collected after mechanical thickening by a monthly period. This approach allowed to observe the temporal changes of sludge characteristics, in a continuous manner. To evaluate the achieved disintegration effects, the following indicators were used: degree of disintegration (DDCOD) and the authors indicators describing the direct and technological effects of UD (IDi, ITi, ITd), based on the changes in the sludge characteristics. Disintegration was carried out by means of an ultrasonic device equipped with a thin sonotrode. AD was conducted under mesophilic conditions for 20 days. Statistical analysis confirmed that the most important parameters of sludge, which determine obtained effects, were total and volatile solids, capillary suction time, concentration of chemical oxygen demand and pH value. The investigations have also showed that the increase in sludge temperature during its disintegration has a significant impact on the magnitude of other effects obtained in the process.

The influence of energy input on the particle size of disintegrated excess sludge in the ultrasonic disintegration process

The objective of this research was to examine the influence of energy input on the particle size distribution of disintegrated sludge. The change of particle size distribution indicates the deagglomeration of flocs and disruption of micro-colonies. As the digestibility of sludge increases with dispersion, particle size analysis is an important factor in evaluating the disintegration process. Four different levels of energy input were used in the research: 10-100 kWh·m-3. All samples showed significant changes as far as dispersion (kdCST = 22.98-74.67, kdFCOD = 3.23-18.46), lysis (kdSCOD = 4.22-12.09), acidification (kdVFAs = 1.78-12.61), nitrogen release (kdTN = 4.02-21.61) indicators were concerned. Results indicate the gradual decrease of measured particle size with increasing energy input. The energy supplied to the disintegration process primarily promotes deagglomeration and with the rise of energy input, the destruction of cells. For EV = 50 and 100 kWh·m-3 an increased occurrence of lysis effects and increase in particle fraction <99.9 μm was noted. The highest efficiency evaluated by increase of filtered chemical oxygen demand (FCOD) and soluble COD (SCOD) per unit of volumetric energy - ΔCOD and ΔSCOD (mgO2·Wh-1) was obtained for Ev = 10 WhL-1, which corresponds to the most significant change in particle size distribution. The volume of particles <99.9 μm rose from 1.92% for non-disintegrated sludge to 26.62% for volumetric energy 100 kWh·m-3.