title: Gamma irradiation of municipal sludge for safe disposal and agricultural use.
abstract: Gamma radiation was found to be an effective tool for hygienization of municipal wastewater sludge. The sludge received from the primary settling tank of a municipal wastewater treatment plant was gamma irradiated using a cobalt-60 source in a sludge hygienization research irradiator. The process parameters were adjusted to effectively eliminate coliform bacteria in the sludge and to prevent their regrowth. Irradiated sludge was found to be free of fecal coliform and could be directly disposed after drying in a landfill or used as manure. It could also be used as a medium for growth of Rhizobium sp for obtaining a bio-fertilizer.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, B.A.R.C, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Satyendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Mahesh R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabharwal
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D010367:Arachis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D005308:Fertilizers; D005720:Gamma Rays; D016961:Rhizobium leguminosarum / Q000254:growth & development; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012722:Sewage