• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.77-85
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performances of the ASBR under critical conditions of solid-liquid separation, caused by extremely high solids concentration, for wider application of the ASBR to various wastes. The ASBRs and completely-mixed daily-fed control runs were operated using a municipal mixed sludge at 35$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$. Conversion of completely-mixed daily-fed reactor to sequencing batch mode and changes in HRT of all ASBRs were easily achieved without adverse effect, regardless of digestion temperature. Solids accumulation was remarkable in the ASBRs, and directly affected by settleable solids concentration of the feed sludge. Noticeable difference in solids-liquid separation was that flotation thickening occurred in the mesophilic ASBRs, while gravity thickening was a predominant solid-liquid separation process in the thermophilic ASBRS. Solids profiles at the end of thickening step dramatically changed at solid-liquid interface, and slight difference in solids concentrations was observed within thickened sludge bed. Organics removals based on subnatant or supernatant after thickening always exceeded 80% in all reactors. Thickened sludge volume and gas production of the ASBRs affected mutually. Gas production increased as thickened sludge accumulated, and continuous gas evolution during thickening could cause thickened sludge to expand or resuspend. Thickened sludge volume exceeding a predetermined withdrawal level resulted in loss of organic solids as well as biomass during withdrawal step, leading to decrease in gas production ind SRT. Such an adverse mutual effect was significant in gravity thickening, while it was not sensitive in flotation thickening. Changes in organic loading had no significant effect on organic removals and gas production after build-up of solids in the ASBRs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 1998

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the performance of anaerobic sequencing batch reactor(ASBR) for digestion of a municipal sludge. Each cycle of the ASBR comprised feeding, two-or three-day reaction, one-day thickening, and withdrawal. The reactors were operated at an HRT of 10days and 5days with an equivalent organic loading rate of 0.8-1.54 gVS/l/d, 1.81-3.56 gVS/l/d at 35$\circ$C, respectively. Solids accumulation was remarkable in the ASBR during start-up period, and directly affected by settleable solids in the feed sludge. Floatation thickening occured in the ASBRs, and Solids profiles at the end of thickening step dramatically changed at solid-liquid interface. Slight difference in solids concentrations was observed within thickened sludge bed. Efficiencies through floatation thickening were comparable to that of additional thickening of the completely mixed control reactor. Average solids concentrations in the ASBRs were 2.2-2.6 times higher than that in the control throughout the total operation period. The dehydrogenase activity had a strong correlation with the solids concentration. Organics removals based on clarified effluent of the ASBRs were consistently above 86%. Remarkable increase in equivalent gas production of 27-52% was observed at the ASBRs compared with the control though the control and ASBRs showed similiar effluent quality. Thus, digestion of a municipal sludge was possible using the ASBR in spite of high concentration of solids in the sludge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.641-648
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• 2009

The study presents sewage sludge flotation and thickening efficiencies which changes chemical conditioning and mixing conditions using a flotation thickening system with a microbubble generating pump. Flotation and thickening of sewage sludge are shown to significantly influence kinds of coagulants more than Gt values. It is found that the flotation and thickening efficiencies for kinds of coagulants follows the order: $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ < PSO-M < $Fe_2(SO_4)_3$. We shows that the flotation thickening system(1.6 $m^3$/d) could be continuously operated during two hours on operation conditions in the lab-scale experiments. Sludge thickening efficiency in the A/S ratio of 0.029 - 0.019 mL/mg was found to be very efficient, reaching to 300.0~335.7%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2005

Comparative thickening and dewatering characteristics of municipal wastewater sludge were investigated in terms of separated and combined treatment of primary and secondary BNR sludge. Also, various conditioning methods such as cation polymer addition, steam and ultrasonication treatment were examined to improve dewaterability of sludge. The dewaterability was measured by using specific resistant test, wedge zone simulator and centrifuge. The result of the sludge thickening test revealed that separated thickening was better in terms of solids recovery and supernatant quality. Particularly, the thickening of primary sludge with high solids (about 3.5% TS) showed very poor solid separation. The addition of cation polymer showed better conditioning characteristic for dewatering and the optimal polymer dosage was 0.26% for primary sludge, 0.43% for secondary sludge and 0.38% for combined sludge. Contrary to the result of the thickening, the dewatering test revealed that dewatering of the combined sludge is better than that of separated sludge, representing better solids separation and filtrate quality. The polymer addition was essential to improve dewaterability in filter (belt) press type dewatering but it was inefficient for the dewatering of secondary sludge only. The centrifuge type dewatering showed better performance and the dewaterability was slightly improved when the polymer was added. Based on the results of this research a sustainable sludge treatment process, particularly in terms of the recycle water quality and solids recovery, was proposed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2014

The sludge flotation/thickening apparatus equipped a micro-bubble generating pump was used to investigate micro-bubble generating properties on operational parameters. We evaluated micro-bubble generating properties as results to be operated the apparatus by operational parameters which are pump discharge pressure, air/water ratio(A/W ratio), air flow rate, and water flow rate. Micro-bubble generating efficiencies in pumps without recycling flow and with 50% of recycling flow was found to be very efficient on optimum A/W ratio from 1.06 to 3.62% and optimum A/W ratio from 1.05 to 4.06%, respectively. In condition of 3.6% of A/W ratio, we showed that the apparatus could be generated 36,000 ppm of micro-bubble concentration to be optimum treatment efficiency in sludge thickening process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.777-782
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• 2011

The residual treatment facilities in WTP(water treatment plant) play an important role in solid-liquid separation. At present, it is difficult to solve problems related with thickening and dewatering of WTP sludge, and discharging waste water to river. The quantity of residuals generated from water treatment plants depends upon the raw water quality, dosage of chemicals used, performance of the treatment process, method of sludge removal, efficiency of sedimentation, and backwashing frequency. Sludge production by the physical separation of SS(Suspended Solid) occurs under quiescent conditions in the primary clarifier, where SSs are allowed to settle and to consolidate on the clarifier bottom. Raw primary sludge results when the settled solids are hydraulically removed from the tank. In this study, Drawing characteristics of the sludge thickening in the thickener of Water Treatment Plants was simulated by Using CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.743-748
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• 2009

Chemical sludge conditioning is widely used to improve the dewatering efficiency. It is treated with commonly used conditioners, and then thickened and dewatered with a mechanical device. This paper aims to examine the flotation and thickening efficiencies of sewage sludge for conditioning conditions, such as unaerobic storage time, kinds of coagulant and dosages, and flotation conditions, such as sludge concentration and A/S ratio, using an dissolved air flotation apparatus. Experimental results showed that the specific surface area and specific resistance to filtration (SRF) were significantly increased and the flotation and thickening efficiencies were decreased with anaerobic storage time. However, the flotation and thickening efficiencies faintly decreased in sewage sludges conditioned as $Al_2(SO_4)_3$, $Fe_2(SO_4)_3$, and PSO-M. Flotation and thickening efficiencies in conditioned sewage sludge could be sustained up to 96% at A/S ratio of 0.01 mL/mg or over.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.617-626
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• 2006

Compared with the sludge from gravity sedimentation, it is difficult for operations to settle the sludge occurred from dissolved-air-flotation (DAF). Even though there are some problems in treating DAF sludge with conventional gravity thickeners, those has been used until now. In this study, Solid Flux theory for gravity thickening was applied to the Solid Flux of DAF sludge through flotation in order to develop new methodology for treatment of DAF sludge. Also, characteristics of DAF sludge were investigated. From the experiment results, it was revealed that the higher the polymer dosage, at fixed the solid concentration, the greater the rising velocity becomes. When we applied solid flux theory, the relationship, which is similar to that of gravity thickening, has been achieved. Also, we could find the proper polymer dosage from the rising velocity is about 50 mg/L. Consequently, the limiting solid flux can be derived from the relationship between the total solid flux and the withdrawal velocity of DAF sludge. Furthermore, the factors, such as solid concentrations, bubble volume, pH, zeta potential, and temperature, have effects on the flotation and sedimentation for DAF sludge treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-177
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• 2014

Low pressure air flotation (LAF) pilot plant for sludge thickening was installed in Chung Nam N.S. municipal waste water treatment plant to verify its application possibility. Effects of operating conditions such as coagulant dosages and microbubble water ratio on thickening of the mixed sludge were examined. Microbubbles which were generated in the chamber of $1.5kgf/cm^2$ by high speed collision method with foaming agent were used to float sludge. Solid loading of $30kg/m^2/hr$, solid contents in thickened sludge of 60,300 mg/L and SS removal efficiency of 99% were obtained through long period operating LAF in conditions of mixed sludge concentration of 14,400 mg/L, coagulant dosage of 27.6 mg/L, foaming agent addition of 4.0 mg/L and microbubble water injection ratio of 9.7%.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

In order to recycle the waste material and to develop the thickening unit of waste activated sludge from wastewater treatment facilities, the filtration bio-reactor equipped with a shadow mask filter module was employed for this work from which the operating properties and parameters were drawn. The sludge thickening and filtration unit is made of cylindrical acryl tank(12cm i.d. ${\times}$ 58cm height: working volume of 6L), where the flat-sheet type of shadow mask filter module(pore size: 220~250um, opening area: 34.8~39.6%) was installed and the effluent was withdrawn from the effluent port at the lowest point of the reactor, and the filtration was performed only by the hydraulic pressure. For evaluating the operating performance of this reactor, some parameters such as the solid-liquid separation of different biomass concentrations, the water quality of filtrate, the aeration cleaning time and the cleaning effect were investigated. Depending on the MLSS concentrations, the different time to withdraw 3L of filtrate was required in which the longer filtration time was necessary for the higher MLSS concentrations caused by the thicker formation of cake layer: 40 minutes for 5,000 mg/L, 70 minutes for 10,000 mg/L and 100 minutes for 15,000 mg/L, where the concentrations of SS were 8.9, 6.7 and 6.5 mg/L, respectively. Under the same operating conditions (the intensity of aeration cleaning: 80 L/min, MLSS: 10,000 mg/L), the proper aeration cleaning time was revealed 30 seconds, and the stable formation of cake layer was in the range of 10 to 15 minutes. Therefore, the shadow mask considered as a waste material can be of use as a filter material for the sludge thickening system.