title: Treatment of sewage sludge in a continuous-flow radiofrequency-oxidation system.
abstract: This study explored the applicability of a pilot-scale continuous-flow radiofrequency (RF) heating system to treat sewage sludge by the RF-oxidation process (RF/H2O2). Depending on temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage, high amounts of soluble chemical oxygen demand and volatile fatty acid were produced, and phosphates, nitrogen, and metals were solubilized. A high temperature and/or a higher H2O2dosage implemented in this system yielded high solubilization of organic matters. Orthophosphate increased with an increase in treatment temperature up to 60°C, its concentration decreased as temperature further increased. There was little effect on orthophosphate release by varying H2O2dosage. The efficiency of the RF/H2O2process was comparable to the microwave (MW) enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW/H2O2-AOP), in terms of solids disintegration and nutrient release; however, the solubilization rate was lower for RF/H2O2process. The overall energy consumed by the RF/H2O2process was higher than the MW/H2O2-AOP.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil Engineering , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , B.C. , Canada.
authors.forename: Kwang V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil Engineering , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , B.C. , Canada.
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil Engineering , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , B.C. , Canada.
authors.forename: Ping H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D012722:Sewage; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Radiofrequency; nutrient release; sludge; solids disintegration