Abstract
Bench-scale and pilot-scale experiments were conducted in an outdoor environment to study the ability of some plant species in dewatering of sewage sludge collected from biological activated sludge treatment. In the bench-scale experiments, four types of plants were tested, including water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), common reed (Phragmites austuralis), Samar (Cyperus alopecuroides), and El Nesila (Panicum echinochloa). Sludge dewatering in the plant reactors was compared with that in the control reactors (no plants). The bench-scale experiments were conducted in reactors with capacities of 17 L. All plants showed a growth in the sewage sludge matrix. High dewatering efficiencies of sewage sludge were obtained with the use of each type of plant, as compared with those in the controls. Among other plants tested in the current study, water hyacinth proved to have the highest dewatering efficiency and was selected for further testing in a pilot-scale experiment. Two identical drying beds were constructed as a pilot-scale, each with its own multi-layered underdrainage system. The plants were added to one of the beds while the other bed served as a control. The pilot study showed that the use of water hyacinth in conventional sludge drying beds can triple the sludge dewatering capacity of these beds. In addition, the quality of the dewatered sludge was also improved compared with that found in conventional drying beds.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Environmental science and pollution research international
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.