Microbiological Treatment of Municipal Sewage Sludge and Refuse as Means of Disinfection Prior to Recycling in Agriculture

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the microbiological treatment of municipal sewage sludge and refuse as means of disinfection prior to recycling in agriculture. The municipal sewage sludges contain a broad variety of bacterial, viral, parasitical and other pathogens, which are excreted by infected individuals. The same applies to municipal refuse, but in a modified dimension. These pathogens may constitute a health hazard for man and animal when the sludge and refuse are used as organic fertilizers or for amending soils. Sanitation methods based on microbiological processes and effects of microbes are (1) aerobic-thermophilic stabilization of liquid sludge, and (2) composting of dewatered sludge or municipal refuse in windrows or reactors (in-vessel-composting). In these technologies, exothermic and antagonistic microbial effects can achieve an inactivation of pathogens, which may exist in the raw materials.