Various combinations of multi-stage thermophilic and/or mesophilic anaerobic sludge digestion systems were studied to evaluate their solids reduction, odor generation after centrifugal dewatering and indicator organism reduction in comparison to single-stage thermophilic and/or mesophilic anaerobic digestion systems. Pre-aeration of sludge in a thermophilic temperature was also tested followed by single or multi-stage anaerobic digestion systems. It was found that multi stage systems were capable of greater solids removal and placing thermophilic system in multi stage system enhanced indicator organism destruction below EPA Class A biosolids requirement. However, all the digestion systems in the study showed less than 3 log reduction of indicator organism DNA/g solids, which was much smaller than indicator organism reduction measured by standard culturing method. It was also found that the thermophilic anaerobic digestion system could increase organic sulfur-based odors from dewatered biosolids while placing a mesophilic digester reduced odors. It was exclusively observed from sludges containing high sulfate such as ones in this study. A combined anaerobic and aerobic sludge digestion system was also studied to evaluate their solids and nitrogen reduction efficiencies. The aerobic digester was continuously aerated to maintain dissolved oxygen level below 1 ppm and intermittently aerated. It was found that 90 % or more nitrogen removal was possible at the aerobic SRT greater than 3 days and the optimum aeration ratio could be determined. / Ph. D.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:00:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissAOF.pdf: 6243442 bytes, checksum: ee1b36639019670cbb0ec3ede6df6bcd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-02-27 / Water supply systems utilize, in most cases, conventional Water Treatment Plants (WTPs). These plants use alum and ferric salts in their coagulation process, and produce residues (sludge) mainly in filter systems and decanter tanks. The produced residues may be toxic to man and are usually disposed of on environment without any kind of treatment, therefore causing pollution. They present fluid characteristic with low solid content and great amount of water. Such characteristic hampers its transportation and proper disposal. The Cardoso plant used to fit the profile of pollutant, dumping its untreated sludge directly into a nearby stream. As a solution to this problem a system with a drainage bed for the sludge from decanter tank and a sedimentation tank for the backwash water from filters have been built. The system was built within the plant area itself. The drainage bed consists of a brick tank with a gravel layer support coated with a geotextile. The solid mass from the dewatered sludge showed adequate conditions as far as characteristics necessary for its final transportation and proper disposal. The water drained from sludge (effluent) is sent to the sedimentation tank. The turbidity, solids and COD were greatly reduced. The system was designed for a less than 30 days utilization period. The sedimentation tank consists of a fiberglass vase installed in a position that allows it to also receive the effluent from the drainage bed. The clarified water is recirculated to the influent of the water treatment plant and the solids are pumped to the drainage bed together the sludge from decanter tank. The system s operation does not require much labor and equipment. The aim of the research carried out was to design and analyze the drainage bed behavior according to prototype developed in the PROSAB 2 research Tema IV, integrated with Sedimentation Tank. Such integrated technology is an effective solution for the great majority of Water Treatment Plants with available areas. It is recommended that such system (Drainage bed and Sedimentation Tank) to be implemented should be always arranged to properly each individual Water Treatment Plant. Further studies should be also made on alternative of throwing clarified water straight from decanter tank to filters before dumping the sludge into drainage bed. / Os sistemas de abastecimento utilizam, na maioria, as Estações de Tratamento de Água (ETAs) convencionais. Essas estações utilizam em seu processo de coagulação sais de ferro ou de alumínio e produzem resíduos (lodos), principalmente, nos decantadores e filtros. Os resíduos produzidos podem ser tóxicos ao homem e normalmente são dispostos sem nenhum tipo de tratamento no meio ambiente causando poluição. Apresentam característica fluida com baixos teores de sólidos e grande quantidade de água. Essa característica dificulta seu manejo para transporte e disposição adequada. A ETA Cardoso, se enquadrava no perfil de poluidora lançando seus resíduos sem tratamento diretamente no corpo d água existente nas proximidades. Como solução para este problema foi implantado um sistema constituído de Leito de Drenagem para os lodos de decantadores e Sedimentador para as águas de lavagem de filtros. O sistema foi construído na própria área da ETA. O Leito de drenagem é constituído de um tanque em alvenaria e meio drenante com camada suporte de brita recoberto com manta geotextil. A massa final de sólido do lodo desaguado apresentou condição suficiente para manejo de retirada, transporte e disposição. O drenado foi encaminhado ao Sedimentador para reuso. Apresentou grande redução de turbidez, sólidos e DQO. O sistema foi projetado para um período de utilização inferior a 30 dias. O Sedimentador é constituído de um tanque em fibra de vidro instalado em posição que possa receber também o drenado do leito de drenagem. A água clarificada do Sedimentador e o drenado do Leito de Drenagem são recirculadas para o início da ETA. Os sólidos sedimentados no Sedimentador são bombeados para o Leito de Drenagem juntamente com o lodo de decantador. A operação do sistema demanda pouca mão de obra e equipamentos. A pesquisa realizada teve como objetivo projetar e analisar o comportamento do Leito de Drenagem, de acordo com o protótipo desenvolvido na pesquisa do PROSAB 2 Tema IV, integrado com o Sedimentador. Essa tecnologia integrada se apresenta como solução efetiva para a grande maioria de ETAs com disponibilidade de área. É recomendado que sempre seja implantado o sistema (Leito de Drenagem e Sedimentador) em arranjos convenientes para cada ETA. A redução da área do Leito de Drenagem é função de estudos para lançamento da água clarificada dos decantadores diretamente para os filtros.