ABSTRACT
Sludge dewatering plays a critical role in the efficient and cost-effective management of wastewater treatment plants. Ultrasonic treatment has emerged as a promising technique for improving dewatering processes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ultrasonic treatment on sludge dewatering characteristics. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the dewatering characteristics of sludge under ultrasonic treatment. Experimental data was collected, and the effects of ultrasonic parameters on dewatering efficiency were analyzed. Ultrasound has the capacity to disintegrate sludge flocs, liberate tightly bound water, and enhance sludge dewatering capabilities. The application of ultrasound leads to the breakdown of sludge flocs, which facilitates a substantial amount of organic acids or carbonates. This, in turn, modifies the pH value of the sludge. Additionally, ultrasound induces instantaneous high temperature and pressure within the liquid phase, consequently elevating the temperature of the sludge slurry. Optimum ultrasound energy density and duration of ultrasound treatment exist. For the sludge samples analyzed in this investigation, it was determined that the optimal ultrasonic energy density is 9.8 W, while the optimal duration of ultrasound treatment is 30 s. Excessively escalating the sound energy density or prolonging the duration of ultrasound may yield unfavorable outcomes in terms of sludge dewatering effectiveness. To enhance sludge dewatering, it is crucial to select appropriate ultrasonic energy density and duration of ultrasonic treatment. This study demonstrates the positive impact of ultrasonic treatment on the dewatering characteristics of sludge. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential of ultrasonic technology for enhancing sludge dewatering.
ABSTRACT
The moisture content of municipal sludge is relatively high, which increases the cost of sludge transportation and treatment. To reduce the volume of the sludge, sludge dewatering is needed. This paper proposes the theory of sludge dewatering and facilitates efficient and economical technology of sludge dewatering. Sludge dewatering tests were carried out by using homemade rapid sludge dewatering devices. There were two groups of tests with single- and double-drainage conditions, and all test runs were loaded with a negative vacuum pressure at the bottom. During the experiments, the vacuum degree and the pore water pressure in the sludge were monitored in real time. After the experiments, the data were compared and analyzed. At the initial stage, the sludge dewatering extent and the sludge dewatering velocity for double-drainage conditions were much higher than those for single-drainage conditions. The vacuum occurring for single-drainage conditions lagged behind that for double-drainage conditions in the sludge. The value of vacuum degree for single-drainage conditions was lower than that for double-drainage conditions, and the vacuum attenuation for single-drainage conditions was considerable. The excess pore water pressure for double-drainage conditions dissipated faster than that for single-drainage conditions in the sludge. The pore water pressure for single-drainage conditions at the top and middle of the sludge layer first increased and then decreased in the early loading stage, resembling the Mandel effect. Overall, with a vacuum negative pressure load at the bottom, the sludge dewatering efficiency for double-drainage conditions was much higher than that for single-drainage conditions. This study provides an experimental and theoretical basis for engineering applications in the sludge treatment industry.
Subject(s)
Sewage/chemistry , Waste Disposal, Fluid , Water/chemistry , VacuumABSTRACT
Extensive attention has been paid to the treatment and disposal of dredged material, and there is a need to clarify the feasibility of recycling dredged material by using it as backfill in soil-bentonite vertical cutoff walls. By setting the dredged material in the Baimao storage yard of Meiliang Bay in Taihu Lake and bentonite as the research objects, this paper studied the influences of bentonite content, confining pressure and pore size distribution on the permeability of dredged material-bentonite backfills. According to the test results, from the perspective of medium-term and short-term permeability, it is feasible to recycle dredged material by using it as backfill in a vertical cutoff wall. The permeability of the dredged material-bentonite soil mixture decreases with increasing bentonite content, but the degree of decrease is not significant. At the same time, the higher the confining pressure is, the smaller the variation in hydraulic conductivity with bentonite content. The permeability of the soil mixture decreases with increasing confining pressure, and the range of reduction is within a certain order of magnitude. Moreover, the confining pressure has a similar impact on the decrease in the permeability of the soil mixtures with different bentonite contents. The hydraulic conductivity of the dredged material-bentonite mixture decreases because the addition of bentonite changes the pore size distribution and reduces the porosity and characteristic pore size D50 of the soil mixture.
