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Developments in pre-treatment methods to improve anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

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Abstract

During wastewater treatment, most organic matter is transferred to a solid phase commonly known as sludge or biosolids. The high cost of sludge management and the growing interest in alternative energy sources have prompted proposals for different strategies to optimize biogas production during anaerobic sludge treatment. Because of the high solid content and complex structure of sludge-derived organic matter, methane production during digestion is limited at the hydrolysis step. Therefore, large digester volume and long retention times of over 20 days are necessary to achieve adequate stabilization. Pre-treatments can be used to hydrolyze sludge and consequently improve biogas production, solids removal and sludge quality after digestion. This paper reviews the main pre-treatment processes, with emphasis on the most recent developments. An overview of the different technologies is presented, discussing their effects on sludge properties and anaerobic digestion. Future challenges and concerns related to pre-treatment assessment and implementation are also addressed.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Anaerobic digestion

ATH:

Advanced thermal hydrolysis

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

CST:

Capillary suction time

DD:

Disintegration degree

DMDO:

Dimethyldioxirane

DOC:

Dissolved organic carbon

DS:

Dry solids

EDC:

Endocrine disrupting compounds

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

F/I:

Feed/inoculum ratio

FC:

Fecal coliforms

GRS:

Growth rate of solubilization

HE:

Helminth eggs

HPH:

High pressure homogenization

MW:

Microwave

ODS:

Organic dry solids

OLR:

Organic loading rate

OM:

Organic matter

OUR:

Oxygen uptake rate

PAA:

Peracetic acid

POMS:

Peroxymonosulfate

PT:

Pre-treatment

SBOD:

Soluble biochemical oxygen demand

SCOD:

Soluble chemical oxygen demand

SN:

Salmonella

SS:

Suspended solids

SRF:

Specific resistance to filtration

SRT:

Solids retention time

SVI:

Sludge volumetric index

TCOD:

Total chemical oxygen demand

TN:

Total nitrogen

TPAD:

Thermally-phased anaerobic digestion

TSPB-AD:

Temperature-staged biologically-phased anaerobic digestion

TS:

Total solids

TSS:

Total suspended solids

US:

Ultrasound

VFAs:

Volatile fatty acids

VS:

Volatile solids

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

WAS:

Waste activated sludge

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grant No. 21110449 from CONICYT (Chile), Grant CONICYT + PAI/2014 No. 781413004 and CONICYT/FONDAP/15130015. The authors also thank the Doctoral Network REDOC.CTA, MINEDUC Grant UCO1202 at the University of Concepcion. P. Neumann and M. Venegas thank to CONICYT for their Scholarship Program CONICYT-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2013-21130054 and CONICYT-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2016-21160100, respectively for supporting their Ph.D. studies at the University of Concepción.

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  1. Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Sciences Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

    P. Neumann, S. Pesante, M. Venegas & G. Vidal

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  1. P. Neumann
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  2. S. Pesante
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Correspondence to G. Vidal.

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Neumann, P., Pesante, S., Venegas, M. et al. Developments in pre-treatment methods to improve anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 15, 173–211 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-016-9396-8

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