Possible Stabilization of Sludge from Groundwater Treatment Plant Using Electrokinetic Method

Abstract

Among the available methods of disposing sludge from water treatment is to dispose them in landfills or to deposit them at a certain location to form lagoons. Once fully deposited, the landfills or lagoons can be converted into a recreational area or even housing area depending upon the final strength of the sludge. An attempt to look into the possibility to stabilize and strengthen sludge from underground water source using electroosmotic method was carried out in a laboratory environment. Several samples of sludge containing predominantly ferrous oxide were placed in specially fabricated electro-osmotic cells. Direct current was then applied through the samples via copper electrodes at the two ends of the samples. All the samples were subjected to seven days of treatment with variation in the surcharge/load imposed and voltage applied on the samples. Results from the tests demonstrated positive effects on the treated sludge samples. There were significant increase in the shear strength and reduction of moisture content which could be an early indication that sludge which predominantly contains ferric oxide could be strengthen by means of electroosmotic stabilization.