title: Sludge conditioning using biogenic flocculant produced by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for enhancement in dewaterability.
abstract: Biogenic flocculant produced by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was used for sludge conditioning to improve the dewaterability of anaerobically-digested sludge, and its efficiency was compared with commercial cationic polyacrylamide (PAM). Biogenic flocculant rapidly reduced the pH and increased the oxidation-reduction potential of sludge. Capillary suction time (CST) and specific resistant to filtration (SRF) of sludge was decreased by 74% and 89%, respectively, compared with control; and the reductions were 58% CST and 67% SRF higher when compared with commercial polymer. Biogenic treatment improved the sludge calorific value by 13%, and also reduced the unpleasant odor. The small-scale mechanical filter press study showed that the biogenic flocculant can reduce the moisture content of sludge to 70%, and improve the clarity of the filtrate in terms of removal of total suspended solids and total dissolved solids when compared with synthetic polymer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Sino Forest Applied Research Center for Pearl River Delta Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Mayur B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kurade
authors.affiliation: Sino Forest Applied Research Center for Pearl River Delta Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Environmental Science, Periyar University, Salem 636011, India.
authors.forename: Kumarasamy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murugesan
authors.affiliation: Sino Forest Applied Research Center for Pearl River Delta Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Ammaiyappan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selvam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Shuk-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Sino Forest Applied Research Center for Pearl River Delta Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: jwcwong@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Jonathan W C
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D005427:Flocculation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012722:Sewage
keywords: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans; Bioflocculation; Biogenic flocculant; Sewage sludge; Sludge dewaterability