Review of rheological behaviour of sewage sludge and its importance in the management of wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Abstract The process operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is based on the proper set up of several physical, chemical and biological parameters. Often, issues and problems arising in the process are strictly linked to the rheological behaviour of sewage sludge (SeS). Therefore, rheological measurements, which recently have captured a growing interest, represent an important aspect to consider in the design and operation of WWTPs, especially in the sludge-handling processes. The knowledge of rheological behaviour of SeS represents a crucial step to better understand its flow behaviour and therefore optimize the performance of the processes, minimizing the costs. The SeS are non-Newtonian fluids and, to date, Bingham and Ostwald models are the most applied. This work presents an overview of scientific literature about the rheological properties of SeS and discusses the importance of its knowledge for the management of WWTPs.