title: Ultrasonic disintegration of biosolids for improved biodegradation.
abstract: Biological cell lysis is known to be the rate-limiting step of anaerobic biosolids degradation. Shear forces generated by low frequency ultrasound can be used to disintegrate bacterial cells in sewage sludge. Thus, the quantity of dissolved organic substrate is increased. Consequently, the degradation rate and the biodegradability of organic biosolids mass are improved. Fundamental pilot-studies showed a significantly accelerated biosolids degradation with less digested sludge being produced and increased biogas production being attained. A full-scale ultrasound reactor system was developed for continuous operation under real life conditions on sewage treatment plants (STP).
authors.affiliation: Ultrawaves GmbH, Water and Environmental Technologies, Kasernenstrasse 12, 21073 Hamburg, Germany. nickel@ultrawaves.de
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Neis
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D007700:Kinetics; D012722:Sewage; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage