Vermicomposting of sewage sludge: a new technology for Mexico

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Cardosa Vigueros ◽  
E. Ramírez Camperos
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Cocoon Production ◽  
Cationic Exchange ◽  
Restricted Use

In Mexico 31% of the treatment plants have a flow less than 60 l/s. This study offers a simple and economical alternative through vermicomposting to resolve the management of sewage sludge and water hyacinth for these small treatment plants. This study was developed with laboratory and pilot scale systems. In the laboratory Eisenia foetida survival was quantified. They were fed three doses of sludge and water hyacinth and different percentages of humidity were applied. The production of worm cocoons was quantified as biomass production and the reduction in the TV/STS ratio as an indicator of stability. To install the pilot system the mixture with the highest cocoon production was chosen. In the pilot test the effect of the worm population density on the waste degradation was observed, the experiment was divided into five modules, four with densities from 2.5 to 15 kg/m2 and one module without worms that served as a blank test. Results: the best mixture was 70% sewage sludge and 30% water hyacinth, with 80% humidity and an average production of 298 cocoons/kg of vermicompost. There were no significant differences in the TVS/TS reduction between the different modules with worms, but in the blank test module there was no reduction. The Type A vermicompost obtained, with non-restricted use, 900 fecal coliforms NMP/g, 0.0 helminth ova/g, highly organic (60% M.O.), high concentration of total nitrogen (2.5%), phosphorus (0.96%) and cationic exchange capacity (60.2 meq/100 g), which indicates that soil fertility would increase if used in agriculture.

Pilot-scale water hyacinth bed for dewatering of sewage sludge

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 450-458
Author(s):  
A.S. El-Gendy ◽  
A.G. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Pilot Scale

‘Technology transfer-oriented research and development in the wastewater sector – validation at industrial-scale plants’ (EXPOVAL) – Subgroup 6: solar sewage sludge drying: first results from investigations with a pilot plant

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-380
Author(s):  
R. Dellbrügge ◽  
K. Bauerfeld ◽  
N. Dichtl ◽  
A. Großer ◽  
S. Paris
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
First Results ◽  
Sludge Drying ◽  
Kjeldahl Nitrogen

Drying sewage sludge is a major aspect of biosolids management. Several investigations were performed in a pilot-scale solar dryer for the subsequent development of design rules for solar dryers. The pilot dryer was operated outside simultaneously with a full-scale dryer and, later, in a building. Total solids in the sludge and climate data were analyzed and logged regularly during drying. The fecal coliform and ammonium content was measured as well. Operation next to the full-scale plant was intended to enable comparison of their evaporation rates. The pilot plant was operated in a building in order to assess the influence of external heat input on the drying process. The results showed constant drying progress and that drying was feasible. Although differences in evaporation rates arising from operation, aeration and scaling existed, evaporation rates comparable to full-scale dryers were observed. Under floor heating improved evaporation rates by 25%. More than 50% of total Kjeldahl nitrogen was degraded, and this could be detected as NH3 in the discharged air. Reduction in fecal coliforms could be achieved without reaching secure disinfection, as required by USEPA standard 503 (USEPA 2007).

scholarly journals Attributes of the soil fertilized with sewage sludge and calcium and magnesium silicate

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1107-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldo R. Zuba Junio ◽  
Regynaldo A. Sampaio ◽  
Altina L. Nascimento ◽  
Luiz A. Fernandes ◽  
Natália N. de Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Cation Exchange ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Magnesium Silicate ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Sludge Compost ◽  
Sewage Sludge Compost ◽  
Randomized Block Design

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the chemical attributes of an Inceptisol cultivated with castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), variety ‘BRS Energia’, fertilized with sewage sludge compost and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) silicate. The experiment was conducted at the ICA/UFMG, in a randomized block design, using a 2 x 4 factorial scheme with three replicates, and the treatments consisted of two doses of Ca-Mg silicate (0 and 1 t ha-1) and four doses of sewage sludge compost (0, 23.81, 47.62 and 71.43 t ha-1, on dry basis). Soil organic matter (OM), pH, sum of bases (SB), effective cation exchange capacity (CEC(t)), total cation exchange capacity (CEC(T)), base saturation (V%) and potential acidity (H + Al) were evaluated. There were no significant interactions between doses of sewage sludge compost and doses of Ca-Mg silicate on soil attributes, and no effect of silicate fertilization on these attributes. However, fertilization with sewage sludge compost promoted reduction in pH and increase in H + Al, OM and CEC. The dose of 71.43 t ha-1 of sewage sludge compost promoted the best soil chemical conditions.

Biolixiviation des métaux lourds et stabilisation des boues d'épuration : essai en bioréacteur opéré en mode cuvée

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Tyagi ◽  
J. F. Blais ◽  
N. Meunier ◽  
D. Kluepfel
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Elemental Sulfur ◽  
Batch Reactor ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Sludge Stabilization ◽  
Sludge Digestion ◽  
Batch Time ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium

A biological process of heavy metals solubilization and sewage sludge stabilization was studied in a batch reactor of 30-L capacity. The acclimatized leaching microflora was composed of two major groups of thiobacilli: less acidophilic and acidophilic. A batch time of 10 days allows a substantial metal solubilization: cadmium (100%), copper (80%), manganese (80%), nickel (46%), and zinc (100%). The bioleaching process also causes a significative decrease in sludge total suspended solids (25%) and volatile suspended solids (32%), and a considerable reduction (under the detection limit of 10 cfu∙mL−1) of indicator bacteria (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci). After filtration or centrifugation of the leached sludge, the solubilized metals were precipitated by lime neutralization. The phosphorus and potassium sludge contents were not affected by bioleaching process. These results indicate that the process of sludge digestion and metal leaching can be conducted in parallel in the same reactor. Key words: sewage sludge, heavy metals, bioleaching, stabilization, thiobacilli, elemental sulfur.

scholarly journals Residual effect of sewage sludge fertilization on sunflower yield and nutrition

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1005-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermann C. de Albuquerque ◽  
Geraldo R. Zuba Junio ◽  
Regynaldo A. Sampaio ◽  
Luiz A. Fernandes ◽  
Fabiano B. S. Prates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Calcium And Magnesium ◽  
Potential Acidity

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the residual effect of sewage sludge fertilization on yield and nutrition of sunflower in its second cycle. The experiment was carried out from April to August 2012. The treatments consisted of four doses of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1, dry basis) applied in the first cycle of sunflower, distributed in a randomized block design, with six replicates. Sunflower stem diameter, plant height, capitulum diameter and yield increased with the increment in sewage sludge doses, with maximum values observed with the dose of 30 t ha-1. The contents of calcium and magnesium in the soil, pH, sum of bases, effective and potential cation exchange capacity and base saturation increased, while potential acidity and the contents of manganese and iron in the leaves decreased, with the increment in the residual doses of sewage sludge. There was a reduction in yield and growth characteristics of sunflower in the second cycle; thus, additional fertilization with sewage sludge is recommended in each new cycle.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver-Histidine Complex Doped Montmorillonite Antibacterial Agent

2012 ◽  
Vol 510 ◽  
pp. 757-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu’e Duan ◽  
Yun Hui Zhai ◽  
Ying Juan Qu
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Agent ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Antibacterial Activities ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Salt Tolerant ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Ion Exchange Reaction ◽  
Cationic Exchange ◽  
Loading Amount

In this paper a novel colorless and salt-tolerant silver-histidine complex doped montmorillonite (Na-MMT) antibacterial agent (SHMMT) power was synthesized by ion exchange reaction using silver-histidine complex ion [Ag (his)] + as precursor, and characterized by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and power X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antibacterial activities against Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora were examined by a modified broth dilution test and the plate counting method. The salt-tolerant property was determined by the antibacterial activities of the sea water soaked SHMMT. The results showed that the Ag loading amount of SHMMT powder reached 1.7mmol/g, far more than the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of Na-MMT. SHMMT powder had high bacterial activity eventhough it was soaked in the sea water for 30 days. 1

VERMICOMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY FOR STABILIZING THE SEWAGE SLUDGE FROM RURAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lina Cardoso ◽  
C. Esperanza Ramírez ◽  
E. Violeta Escalante
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Sludge Management

There are problems associated with sludge management in small treatment plants (<10 L/s) located in rural communities, due to costly conventional technology for sludge stabilization. Many of these plants have only sludge drying beds. Mexican Institute of Water Technology has proposed developing suitable low-cost technologies, one of which is vermicomposting a biodegradation system using earthworms of the species Eisenia foetida (earthworm) which stabilize sludge and reduce its pathogenicity. The objective of this work is to present two case studies where vermicomposting technology has been applied in Mexico. The first study corresponds to a plant where 4.8 m3/month of sludge are produced; for these wastes, a vermicomposting system was built and installed. The second study is a treatment plant where 9 m3/month of sludge are produced; experimental tests were conducted with sludge and water hyacinth and a vermicomposting system was designed. The vermicomposts were analyzed using parameters defined by Mexican standards. In regards to stabilization, TVS was reduced by 38% and the microbiological quality of the vermicompost was Class A and B, with a reduction in fecal coliforms and Helminth eggs according to NOM-004-SEMARNAT-2002. A CRETI (Corrosivity, Reactivity, Explosivity, Toxicity and Ignitability) analysis (NOM-052-SEMARNAT-2005) was used to show that the process reduced the concentration of releasable sulfides. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost exhibited a high content of organic matter comparable to many organic manures and high content of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that it is possible to improve the conditions of sewage sludge management in small plants of rural communities with a minimum investment (less than $10,000.00 USD) and with a requirement of a minimum area of 60 to 70 m2 for a production of less than 9 m3/month of dehydrated sludge (80% humidity).

scholarly journals Changes in suspension properties of structural modified montmorillonites

Cerâmica ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 47 (301) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Volzone ◽  
L. B. Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Structural Disorder ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Flow Properties ◽  
Flow Curves ◽  
Structural Modifications ◽  
Fine Particle Size ◽  
Cationic Exchange

Rheological changes were found in smectite (Wyoming- and Cheto-type montmorillonites) suspensions after structural modifications. The effect of the particle size and Na+ exchange on the flow curves of 6% wt/wt suspensions of smectites with and without Na2CO3 were examined. Mineralogical, structural and physicochemical characteristics were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), cationic exchange capacity (CEC), Mg2+, Al3+ determinations, particle size distribution and swelling index (SI). Grinding in an oscillating mill modified the particle sizes. The montmorillonite grain size and the structural disorder increased after larger grinding times. The grinding treatment modified the apparent viscosity and the yield stress of the montmorillonite suspensions. The homoionic Na Cheto-type montmorillonite with fine particle size (obtained by grinding) increased the flow properties. Nevertheless, rheological properties were lower than those of suspensions of the Wyoming-type montmorillonite. Montmorillonite-types reacted differently with Na2CO3 additions and this behavior may be related to their structural composition. The Na2CO3 activation improved the flow properties of the original Wyoming-type montmorillonite and after 30 s grinding.

scholarly journals Mineralogical characterization of natural clays from Brazilian Southeast region for industrial applications

Cerâmica ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (366) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. I. Alvarez Acevedo ◽  
M. C. G. Rocha ◽  
L. C. Bertolino
Keyword(s):  
Specific Surface ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Mineralogical Characterization ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
Pore Size Analysis ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Natural Clays ◽  
Cationic Exchange

Abstract Characterization studies of clays are often performed to identify possible markets for these materials. Bearing this in mind, two samples of natural clays from the Southeast region of Brazil were studied. Conventional techniques of characterization were used. Granulometric analysis and determination of cationic exchange capacity of these clays were also performed. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements were used to determine the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda and t-plot pore size analysis were carried out. The results obtained were similar for the two clays. Both present high clay fraction (above 80 wt%) composed of illite, kaolinite and quartz minerals. Stratified illite-smectite structures were also observed. Traces of calcite were detected in one of the clay samples, while traces of montmorillonite were observed in the other sample. These results were corroborated by the low cationic exchange capacity values obtained for both clays. These clays showed good adsorptive properties, evidenced by their specific surface areas, with predominantly mesoporous structures and slit-like pores. According to their features, these clays have potential use as adsorbents to replace more expensive materials due to their easy availability and low cost.

scholarly journals The Identification of Electrolyte Property of Humus-Contained Andosol Soil Using Cu-Zn Electrodes

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Irvan Maulana Firdaus ◽  
Diva N.M.D. Masyitoh ◽  
Tharra A.N. Azizah ◽  
Febiyanto Febiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Humus Substance ◽  
Electrode Area ◽  
Electrode Distance ◽  
Cationic Exchange ◽  
Cu And Zn

<p><em>This study investigated the electrolyte property of humus-contained andosol soil using Volta cell. The electrodes that are used were Cu and Zn for cathode and anode, respectively. This research was done by varying electrode area and distance between Cu and Zn electrodes. The varied electrode area was 20, 30, and 40 cm<sup>2</sup>, whereas the electrode distance was 3, 4, and 5 cm. Then, the current and voltage profiles of Volta cell system were measured using a digital multimeter. The result showed that humus-contained andosol soil has an electrolyte property. Electrolyte property of andosol soil might be due to the humus substance that has a high cationic-exchange capacity. Besides, it showed that the increase of the electrode area, the current and voltage were increased gradually. In contrast, the increase in current and voltage could be found by the decrease of electrode distance. In addition, the use of 24-Volta cells system enhancing current and voltage compared to a single cell. It suggests that the increase of current and voltage was relatively proportional to the number of Volta cell. Therefore, this research can be a reference for the identification of electrolyte property of natural or waste materials.</em></p>

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