title: Characterization and biodegradability of sludge from a high rate A-stage contact tank and B-stage membrane bioreactor of a pilot-scale AB system treating municipal wastewaters.
abstract: In light of global warming mitigation efforts, increasing sludge disposal costs, and need for reduction in the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants, innovation in treatment technology has been tailored towards energy self-sufficiency. The AB process is a promising technology for achieving maximal energy recovery from wastewaters with minimum energy expenditure and therefore inherently reducing excess sludge production. Characterization of this novel sludge and its comparison with the more conventional B-stage sludge are necessary for a deeper understanding of AB treatment process design. This paper presents a case study of a pilot-scale AB system treating municipal wastewaters as well as a bio- (biochemical methane potential and adenosine tri-phosphate analysis) and physico-chemical properties (chemical oxygen demand, sludge volume index, dewaterability, calorific value, zeta potential and particle size distribution) comparison of the organic-rich A-stage against the B-stage activated sludge. Compared to the B-sludge, the A-sludge yielded 1.4 to 4.9 times more methane throughout the 62-week operation.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Queensland 4350, Australia E-mail: antoine.trzcinski@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Antoine Prandota
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Trzcinski
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One #06-08, Singapore 637141.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganda
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One #06-08, Singapore 637141.
authors.forename: Chinagarn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunacheva
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One #06-08, Singapore 637141.
authors.forename: Dong Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Water Reclamation (Plants) Department, Public Utilities Board, 40 Scotts Road, #15-01 Singapore, Singapore 228231.
authors.forename: Li Leonard
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Water Reclamation (Plants) Department, Public Utilities Board, 40 Scotts Road, #15-01 Singapore, Singapore 228231.
authors.forename: Guihe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Water Reclamation (Plants) Department, Public Utilities Board, 40 Scotts Road, #15-01 Singapore, Singapore 228231.
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One #06-08, Singapore 637141; Division of Environmental and Water Resources, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Wun Jern
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002947:Cities; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008697:Methane; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical