Abstract
Sewage sludge is a by-product of the municipal wastewater treatment process. The amount of sewage sludge generated in treatment plants in Poland and other European countries is constantly growing. Due to the growing environmental awareness, legal requirements are being established that require the appropriate treatment of sludge before it can be used for natural purposes. Therefore, operators are looking for the best solutions to ensure proper sewage sludge preparation. More and more ATAD (auto-thermophilic sewage sludge stabilization) installations are being built in Poland, which allow for simultaneous stabilization and hygienization of sludge. However, this process contributes to the formation of leachate, which is discharged into the biological reactors of municipal sewage treatment plants. The leachate after the ATAD process has a complex organic substance and is characterized by large loads of total nitrogen and total phosphorus. Biological wastewater treatment processes can be ineffective for such specific pollutants returned in ATAD leachate. Thus far, no research has been undertaken to analyze the problem presented.
Highlights
In Poland, in the years 2000 to 2015, the amount of municipal sewage sludge produced was constantly increasing
In 2018, about 580,000 tons of dry mass of sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants were generated in Poland [1]
The process of autothermal thermophilic stabilization of sewage sludge is recommended for treatment plants whose capacity does not exceed 20,000 m3/d [6]
Summary
In Poland, in the years 2000 to 2015, the amount of municipal sewage sludge produced was constantly increasing. In 2018, about 580,000 tons of dry mass of sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants were generated in Poland [1]. Sewage sludge directly after the treatment process is considered waste and, according to the Waste Act of 14 December 2012, waste can be disposed of only when it cannot be reused [2]. In Poland, a large amount of sewage sludge goes to landfills every year [1]. In order to reuse the sludge, processes such as stabilization and hygienization are used. The ATAD process, i.e., auto-thermal thermophilic stabilization of sewage sludge, allows the abovementioned processes to be carried out by means of one installation, which occupies a small area.
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