Abstract
Sludge is generated in the process of water and wastewater treatment, and it has been causing various problems environmentally and economically. The firing technology in pottery industry was applied to the sludge treatment, and the final product was called artificial soil. For the production of artificial soil, lime and chabazite was used as additive, and the mixed material was thermally treated in the firing kiln at $300^{\circ}$ temperature for about 15 minutes. The physico-chemical characteristics of the artificial soil was analyzed and it showed that the artificial soil could be used as a soil conditioner for farmland. The concentrations of the toxic heavy metals in the artificial soil were lower than those in the soil quality standard for farmland. It was high in permeability, total nitrogen and total phosphorous concentrations and surface area of the artificial soil compared to the common field soil. Preliminary cost analysis showed that the sludge treatment cost for artificial soil was less than the disposal cost in the current landfill disposal method. This study illustrated that the artificial soil production process can be a feasible alternative for sludge treatment, and produced artificial soil may he applied to farmland without causing significant adverse effect. Further study is recommended for practical application of the system and verification of the longterm effect of the artificial soil on farmland.
