title: Understanding the mechanisms of thermal disintegrating treatment in the reduction of sludge production.
abstract: Among the technologies aimed at reducing sludge production, the combination of thermal treatment at 95 degrees C of sludge and the activated sludge process is a promising route. The feasibility of such a combined process is demonstrated (up to 60% sludge reduction) and the impacts of operating conditions on its efficiency are presented. Major emphasis was put on understanding the complex phenomena occurring within the thermal treatment: release and biodegradability of sludge organic matter, impact on the biological activity (decay, maintenance requirements, etc.). These effects were taken into account for the development of an ASM1-based model. Comparison between the modeling approach and experimental data (continuous and batch) showed that thermal treatment had three major issues partly explaining the reduction of sludge production: (i) a low release of organics; (ii) an immediate and reversible biological inactivation associated with additional maintenance energy requirements; and (iii) a potential inert production.
authors.affiliation: Suez Environnement, Dore, Cirsee, 38 rue du Président Wilson, 78230 Le Pecq, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ginestet
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Audic
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D008954:Models, Biological; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D010100:Oxygen