Future Trends in Biosolids Processing

Future Trends in Biosolids Processing

New solids processing systems have not been developed as rapidly as liquid unit operations and processes. Anaerobic digestion remains the principal process for the stabilization of solids. Egg-shaped digesters, developed in Europe for anaerobic digestion, are being used more extensively in the United States because of advantages of easier operation, lower operation and maintenance costs, and, in some cases, increased volatile solids destruction (which also increases the production of reusable methane gas) (see Fig. 1-8). Other developments in anaerobic and aerobic digestion include temperature-phased anaerobic digestion and auto thermal aerobic digestion (ATAD), another process developed in Europe. These processes offer advantages of improved volatile solids destruction and the production of stabilized biosolids that meet Class A requirements.

High solids centrifuges and heat dryers are expected to be used more extensively. High solids centrifuges extract a greater percentage of the water in liquid sludge, thus providing a dryer cake. Improved dewatering not only reduces the volume of solids

requiring further processing and disposal, but allows composting or subsequent drying to be performed more efficiently. Heat drying provides further volume reduction and improves the quality of the product for potential commercial marketing.