EFFECT OF THERMO-OXIDATIVE CO-TREATMENT WITH ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF EXCESS MUNICIPAL SLUDGE

The effect of thermo-oxidative co-treatment on the anaerobic digestion of excess municipal sludge was investigated. A two stage configuration was used to evaluate the effect of thermooxidative co-treatment of a mixture of primary and waste activated sludge already anaerobically treated. The stress unit was placed in between the two stages. The effect of two different “low temperatures” at a constant oxidant concentration, 1g H2O2/gVSSinfluent, was evaluated. An increase in solids removal of 24.9 and 33.5 % was observed when operational temperature was 65°C and 90°C respectively compared to the control configuration with no co-treatment. The effect of the co-treatment on other effluent quality parameters such as COD, TKN, Ammonia, and VFA concentrations was also evaluated. The fecal coliforms concentration was measured to establish the effect of the co-treatment on biosolids characteristics.