title: Sustainable approaches for minimizing biosolids production and maximizing reuse options in sludge management: A review.
abstract: Sludge generation during wastewater treatment is inevitable even with proper management and treatment. Yet proper handling and disposal of sludge are still challenging in terms of treatment cost, presence of recalcitrant contaminants of concern, sanitary issues, and public acceptance. Conventional disposal methods (i.e. landfilling, incineration) have created concerns in terms of legislative restrictions and community perception, incentivizing consideration of substitute sludge management options. Furthermore, with proper treatment, biosolids from sludge, rich in organic materials and nutrients, could be utilizable as fertilizer. Despite the challenges of dealing with sludge, no review has dealt with integrated source reduction and reuse as the best sustainable management practices for sludge treatment. In this review, we present two main approaches as potentially sustainable controls: (i) pretreatment for minimizing extensive sludge treatment, and (ii) recycling and reuse of residual sludge. Drawing on these approaches, we also suggest strategies for efficient pretreatment mechanisms and residual reuse, presenting ideas for prospective future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr. McArthur Engineering Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA. Electronic address: s.joo1@miami.edu.
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr. McArthur Engineering Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dello Monaco
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr. McArthur Engineering Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr. McArthur Engineering Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chorath
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D059027:Recycling; D012722:Sewage; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage
keywords: Beneficial reuse; Biosolid; Chemical pretreatment; Composting; Disintegration; Electromagnetic pretreatment; Nutrient recycling; Source reduction; Thermal pretreatment