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Reviewing Improved Anaerobic Digestion by Combined Pre-Treatment of Waste-Activated Sludge (WAS)

Author

Listed:
  • Miao Yang

    (Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Margot Vander Elst

    (Chemical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Ilse Smets

    (Chemical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Huili Zhang

    (School of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Shuo Li

    (School of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Jan Baeyens

    (Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Yimin Deng

    (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100811, China)

Abstract

The anaerobic digestion of wastewater treatment sludge (WAS) produces a “green” biogas while reducing the amount of residual sludge. To increase the yield of biogas, several individual or combined pre-treatment methods of WAS can be used. These pre-treatment methods substantially reduce the amount of volatile suspended solids (VSSs) and their associated total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD). Pre-treating the sludge will increase the methane yield by 15 to 30%. Although the individual methods have been dealt with in research and large-scale operations, the combined (hybrid) methods have not previously been reviewed. Here, different hybrid treatment methods are reviewed, including (1) thermochemical hydrolysis pre-treatment, using an alkaline or acid addition to enhance solubilization of the sludge cells and increase biogas production; (2) alkaline and high-pressure homogenizer pre-treatment, combining a chemical and mechanical treatment; (3) alkaline and ultrasound pre-treatment, capable of solubilizing organic sludge compounds by different mechanisms, such as the fast and effective ultrasound disruption of cells and the increasing effect of the alkaline (NaOH) treatment; (4) combined alkaline and microwave pre-treatment, which enhances sludge solubilization by at least 20% in comparison with the performance of each separate process; (5) microwave (MW) and peroxidation pre-treatment of WAS suspended solids (SSs), which are quickly (<5 min) disintegrated by MW irradiation at 80 °C; (6) ultrasound and peroxidation pre-treatment, with ozone and peroxides as powerful oxidizing agents; and (7) pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment. All literature findings are assessed, discussing relevant operation conditions and the results achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Miao Yang & Margot Vander Elst & Ilse Smets & Huili Zhang & Shuo Li & Jan Baeyens & Yimin Deng, 2024. "Reviewing Improved Anaerobic Digestion by Combined Pre-Treatment of Waste-Activated Sludge (WAS)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6419-:d:1443912
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Jie & Li, Yongmei, 2016. "Synergistic pretreatment of waste activated sludge using CaO2 in combination with microwave irradiation to enhance methane production during anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1123-1132.
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