Reasons for Ineffectiveness in Improving Dewaterability of Anaerobically Digested Sludge by Bioleaching

Haochi Zhang, Dejin Zhang, Yujun Zhou, Di Fang, Chunhong Cui, Jianru Liang, Bo Zhou, Mingjiang Zhang, Jiansheng Li and Lixiang Zhou ()
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Haochi Zhang: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Dejin Zhang: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Yujun Zhou: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Di Fang: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Chunhong Cui: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Jianru Liang: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Bo Zhou: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Mingjiang Zhang: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Jiansheng Li: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Lixiang Zhou: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: The use of bioleaching for anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) was found to be ineffective compared to using it for undigested sludge (UDS) for reasons elucidated in this study. Results showed that specific resistance to filtration of ADS increased during bioleaching. The pH value of ADS increased to 7.97 and remained unchanged during bioleaching, while it decreased to 2.98 for UDS. Added Fe 2+ was not detected as the energy source for ADS. Higher alkalinity and unavailable Fe 2+ in ADS prevented the growth of the Acidithiobacillus species. It was found that sludge pH increased to 8.40 and then stayed within an alkaline range, whereas slime EPS content rapidly increased to 8.13 mg DOC/g VSS. These results indicated that aeration seriously deteriorated the dewaterability of ADS through bioleaching due to the unexpected drastic increase of sludge pH and slime EPS content.

Keywords: bioleaching; anaerobically digested sludge; undigested sludge; dewaterability; extracellular polymeric substances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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