title: Enhanced sludge properties and distribution study of sludge components in electrically-enhanced membrane bioreactor.
abstract: This study investigated the impact of electric field on the physicochemical and biological characteristics of sludge wasted from an electrically-enhanced membrane bioreactor treating medium-strength raw wastewater. This method offers a chemical-free electrokinetic technique to enhance sludge properties and remove heavy metals. For example, sludge volume index (SVI), time-to-filter (TTF), mean sludge particle diameter (PSD), viscosity, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of 21.7 mL/g, 7 min, 40.2 μm, 3.22 mPa s, and -4.9 mV were reported, respectively. Also, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses provided mechanisms for heavy metal removal so as to establish relevant pathways for nutrient recovery. Furthermore, variations in dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, viscosity, ORP, total suspended solids (MLSS), and volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) were interrelated to evaluate the quality of wasted sludge. A pathway study on the transport and chemical distribution of nutrients and metals in sludge showed great potential for metal removal and nutrient recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: agiwa@masdar.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Adewale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: iftahmed@masdar.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: swajih@masdar.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Shadi Wajih
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D004560:Electricity; D004867:Equipment Design; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014783:Viscosity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010100:Oxygen; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Chemical distribution; Electrokinetics; Membrane bioreactor; Nutrient recovery; Sludge management