Production of Biosolids by Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (ATAD) from a Municipal Sewage Sludge: The Polish Case Study

Izabela Bartkowska, Paweł Biedka and Izabela Anna Tałałaj
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Izabela Bartkowska: Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Paweł Biedka: Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Izabela Anna Tałałaj: Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: This manuscript analyzed the process of autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) used in installations of municipal sewage treatment plants in Poland. Additionally, solutions for sludge management and the parameters of operating installations were presented. Attention was also put to the energy consumption of the process, where the energy consumption for 1 m 3 of sludge treated was between 18.4 and 27.79 kWh. The amount of sewage flowing into the analyzed plants was between 1500 and 14,000 m 3 /d. On the basis of research carried out in the years 2003–2019 in the selected plants, the characteristics of sludge after the ATAD process were presented. The parameters that determine the usefulness of the sludge as an organic fertilizer were indicated above all. The content of total nitrogen, which was from 2.4 to 8.1% of dry matter, ammonium nitrogen, which was from 0.8 to 1.8% of dry matter, and total phosphorus, which was from 1.1 to 4.2% of dry matter, recommended using sludge for fertilization. It was also pointed out that sewage sludge should be regularly tested for the dynamics of changes in chemical composition and biological parameters. These are the factors that increase risk and limit the use of sludge for fertilization.

Keywords: autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion; ATAD; organic fertilizers; sewage sludge; natural utilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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