Evaluation of Sludge Reduction Mechanisms in ‘Sonolysis-Cryptic Growth’ Wastewater Treatment System

Abstract:

‘Sonication - cryptic growth’ technology can reduce 30-80% excess sludge in wastewater treatment systems. Various mechanisms contribute to the sludge reduction but the role of each one is unclear. This paper quantitatively studied the potential mechanisms in ‘sonication - cryptic growth’. The operation condition was: every day 20% sludge was sonicated under 1.2 Wml^-1 for 15 min and then returned to the wastewater treatment reactor for cryptic growth. The results showed that under such conditions, ‘sonication - cryptic growth’ reduced the excess sludge by 57.3% and the effluent met the national discharge standard. Multiple mechanisms were involved in the process. Detailed analysis showed that the ‘lysis-cryptic growth’ mechanism was the most important one and accounted for 49.1% of sludge reduction. Biodegradation of residual sludge was the second important one and contributed 19.5%. Other potential mechanisms included the altered microbial community, longer sludge retention time, and accumulation of persistent materials. But organic load increase had virtually no impact.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 768)
• Pages: 108-115
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.768.108
• Online since: June 2015
• Authors: Pan Yue Zhang, Tian Wan, Guang Ming Zhang*
• Keywords: Cryptic Growth, Mechanisms, Sludge Reduction, Ultrasonic Lysis

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