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Post-treatment of dewatered digested sewage sludge by thermophilic high-solid digestion for pasteurization with positive energy output.

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Title: Post-treatment of dewatered digested sewage sludge by thermophilic high-solid digestion for pasteurization with positive energy output.
Authors: Nordell, E.1,2 (AUTHOR) erik.nordell@tekniskaverken.se, Moestedt, J.1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Österman, J.1 (AUTHOR), Shakeri Yekta, S.2,3 (AUTHOR), Björn, A.2,3 (AUTHOR), Sun, L.4 (AUTHOR), Schnürer, A.1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR) anna.schnurer@slu.se
Source: Waste Management. Jan2021, Vol. 119, p11-21. 11p.
Subjects: Sewage sludge, Sewage sludge digestion, Tubular reactors, Food pasteurization, Digestion, Sewage disposal plants
Geographic Terms: Linköping (Sweden)
Abstract: • Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS increases methane yield by 6% • Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS at 52 °C efficiently converts organic N. • Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS is stable at high free ammonia levels (2 g/L) • Increasing ammonia level enriches members of the methanogenic family WSA2. • Sanitization of DDS by thermophilic dry digestion has a positive energy balance. This study investigated the possibility to use thermophilic anaerobic high solid digestion of dewatered digested sewage sludge (DDS) at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as a measure to increase total methane yield, achieve pasteurization and reduce risk for methane emissions during storage of the digestate. A pilot-scale plug-flow reactor was used to mimic thermophilic post-treatment of DDS from a WWTP in Linköping, Sweden. Process operation was evaluated with respect to biogas process performance, using both chemical and microbiological parameters. Initially, the process showed disturbance, with low methane yields and high volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation. However, after initiation of digestate recirculation performance improved and the specific methane production reached 46 mL CH 4 /g VS. Plug flow conditions were assessed with lithium chloride and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was determined to be 19–29 days, sufficient to reach successful pasteurization. Degradation rate of raw protein was high and resulted in ammonia-nitrogen levels of up to 2.0 g/L and a 30% lower protein content in the digestate as compared to DDS. Microbial analysis suggested a shift in the methane producing pathway, with dominance of syntrophic acetate oxidation and the candidate methanogen family WSA2 by the end of the experiment. Energy balance calculations based on annual DDS production of 10 000 ton/year showed that introduction of high-solid digestion as a post-treatment and pasteurization method would result in a positive energy output of 340 MWh/year. Post-digestion of DDS also decreased residual methane potential (RMP) by>96% compared with fresh DDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:• Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS increases methane yield by 6% • Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS at 52 °C efficiently converts organic N. • Thermophilic dry digestion of DDS is stable at high free ammonia levels (2 g/L) • Increasing ammonia level enriches members of the methanogenic family WSA2. • Sanitization of DDS by thermophilic dry digestion has a positive energy balance. This study investigated the possibility to use thermophilic anaerobic high solid digestion of dewatered digested sewage sludge (DDS) at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as a measure to increase total methane yield, achieve pasteurization and reduce risk for methane emissions during storage of the digestate. A pilot-scale plug-flow reactor was used to mimic thermophilic post-treatment of DDS from a WWTP in Linköping, Sweden. Process operation was evaluated with respect to biogas process performance, using both chemical and microbiological parameters. Initially, the process showed disturbance, with low methane yields and high volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation. However, after initiation of digestate recirculation performance improved and the specific methane production reached 46 mL CH 4 /g VS. Plug flow conditions were assessed with lithium chloride and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was determined to be 19–29 days, sufficient to reach successful pasteurization. Degradation rate of raw protein was high and resulted in ammonia-nitrogen levels of up to 2.0 g/L and a 30% lower protein content in the digestate as compared to DDS. Microbial analysis suggested a shift in the methane producing pathway, with dominance of syntrophic acetate oxidation and the candidate methanogen family WSA2 by the end of the experiment. Energy balance calculations based on annual DDS production of 10 000 ton/year showed that introduction of high-solid digestion as a post-treatment and pasteurization method would result in a positive energy output of 340 MWh/year. Post-digestion of DDS also decreased residual methane potential (RMP) by>96% compared with fresh DDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:0956053X
DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2020.09.028