title: Effect of floc size and structure on biosolids capillary suction time.
abstract: Both size and structure of wastewater solids (biosolids) have been hypothesised to have an impact on the dewaterability of these solids yet very little data exists to validate this hypothesis or to elucidate the relative effects of size and structure. We have recently undertaken studies in which the size and structure of activated sludge flocs were altered in a controlled manner and the dewaterability of resultant flocs examined using the well established capillary suction time (CST) test. A small angle light scattering method was applied for the determination of activated sludge floc size and structure. The results obtained in this work show that floc structure is a major determinant of capillary suction time. In some instances, flocs have almost double the median (D(4,3)) size but possess similar fractal dimensions and similar CST values.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amal
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Waite
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005427:Flocculation; D010316:Particle Size; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage