Este estudo procurou investigar a utilização de polímeros para condicionamento de lodo de ETE para desidratação em filtro prensa de placa e verificar as eventuais vantagens em relação ao condicionamento com cal e cloreto férrico. Para isso foram realizadas pesquisa bibliográfica, consulta a fornecedores de polímeros e de equipamentos e trabalhos experimentais em laboratório e em escala piloto com lodo gerado nos digestores anaeróbios da ETE Barueri da SABESP que mostrava interesse em fazer o condicionamento do lodo com polímeros. Atualmente, na ETE Barueri o condicionamento de lodo é feito com cal e cloreto férrico, com dosagens em torno de 25% e 10% respectivamente e a desidratação em filtro prensa de placas, com tempo de ciclo de 4 horas, produz tortas com 40% de teor de sólidos e densidade de 1,20 kg/L. Nos experimentos foram utilizados polímeros catiônicos de alto peso molecular. O equipamento piloto utilizado foi um filtro prensa de placa do tipo membrana diafragma com dez placas de 800 x 800 mm. Nos ensaios do filtro prensa piloto, com a utilização de polímero em pó para o condicionamento de lodo, indicou-se uma redução nos custos de produtos químicos consumidos em relação ao condicionamento com cal e cloreto férrico. O condicionamento com polímero em pó e cloreto férrico, com dosagens respectivamente de 4,83 kg/ton e 6,3%, resultou numa torta com teor de sólidos de 31% e densidade de 1,13 kg/L. Já o condicionamento feito somente com polímero em pó, com dosagem de 5,38 kg/ton, resultou numa torta com teor de sólidos de 30% e densidade de 1,08 kg/L, porém apresentou problemas na soltura das tortas. A utilização de polímeros permitiu trabalhar em taxas iniciais de filtração mais altas, resultando num tempo de filtração em torno de 120 minutos, implicando em tempos de ciclo mais curtos. / This study investigated the utilization of polymers for the conditioning of the sludge generated at Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTP) for dewatering at filter presses, verifying the eventual advantages in comparison with the conditioning with lime and ferric chloride. Specific bibliography was researched, polymer and equipment suppliers were consulted and experimental studies were carried out at the laboratory and in a pilot scale. The sludge was generated at the anaerobic digesters of Barueri WTP operated by SABESP which has shown interest in this method. Currently, at Barueri WTP the sludge conditioning is performed with lime and ferric chloride at dosages around 25% and 10%, respectively. The dewatering is processed by filter presses during a cycle period of 4 hours, producing cakes with 40% of solids and a density of 1,20 kg/L. The experimental studies were carried out with high molecular weight cationic polymers. The pilot equipment consisted of a filter press with a diaphragm membrane with 10 plates measuring 800 x 800 mm each. During the tests at the pilot filter press, when dry polymers for sludge conditioning were utilized, it was verified that the cost of chemical products consumed was reduced in comparison with the conditioning with lime and ferric chloride. The sludge conditioning with dry polymers and ferric chloride at respective dosages of 4,83 kg/ton and 6,3% resulted in cakes with 31% of solids and density of 1,38 kg/L. On the other hand, the sludge conditioned only with dry polymers at a dosage of 5,38 kg/ton resulted in cakes with 30% of solids and density of 1,08 kg/L, but the cake release from the plates was difficult. The utilization of polymers allowed higher initial filtration rates resulting in a 120 minute filtration period with a consequent reduction of the cycle time.

Este estudo procurou investigar a utilização de polímeros para condicionamento de lodo de ETE para desidratação em filtro prensa de placa e verificar as eventuais vantagens em relação ao condicionamento com cal e cloreto férrico. Para isso foram realizadas pesquisa bibliográfica, consulta a fornecedores de polímeros e de equipamentos e trabalhos experimentais em laboratório e em escala piloto com lodo gerado nos digestores anaeróbios da ETE Barueri da SABESP que mostrava interesse em fazer o condicionamento do lodo com polímeros. Atualmente, na ETE Barueri o condicionamento de lodo é feito com cal e cloreto férrico, com dosagens em torno de 25% e 10% respectivamente e a desidratação em filtro prensa de placas, com tempo de ciclo de 4 horas, produz tortas com 40% de teor de sólidos e densidade de 1,20 kg/L. Nos experimentos foram utilizados polímeros catiônicos de alto peso molecular. O equipamento piloto utilizado foi um filtro prensa de placa do tipo membrana diafragma com dez placas de 800 x 800 mm. Nos ensaios do filtro prensa piloto, com a utilização de polímero em pó para o condicionamento de lodo, indicou-se uma redução nos custos de produtos químicos consumidos em relação ao condicionamento com cal e cloreto férrico. O condicionamento com polímero em pó e cloreto férrico, com dosagens respectivamente de 4,83 kg/ton e 6,3%, resultou numa torta com teor de sólidos de 31% e densidade de 1,13 kg/L. Já o condicionamento feito somente com polímero em pó, com dosagem de 5,38 kg/ton, resultou numa torta com teor de sólidos de 30% e densidade de 1,08 kg/L, porém apresentou problemas na soltura das tortas. A utilização de polímeros permitiu trabalhar em taxas iniciais de filtração mais altas, resultando num tempo de filtração em torno de 120 minutos, implicando em tempos de ciclo mais curtos. / This study investigated the utilization of polymers for the conditioning of the sludge generated at Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTP) for dewatering at filter presses, verifying the eventual advantages in comparison with the conditioning with lime and ferric chloride. Specific bibliography was researched, polymer and equipment suppliers were consulted and experimental studies were carried out at the laboratory and in a pilot scale. The sludge was generated at the anaerobic digesters of Barueri WTP operated by SABESP which has shown interest in this method. Currently, at Barueri WTP the sludge conditioning is performed with lime and ferric chloride at dosages around 25% and 10%, respectively. The dewatering is processed by filter presses during a cycle period of 4 hours, producing cakes with 40% of solids and a density of 1,20 kg/L. The experimental studies were carried out with high molecular weight cationic polymers. The pilot equipment consisted of a filter press with a diaphragm membrane with 10 plates measuring 800 x 800 mm each. During the tests at the pilot filter press, when dry polymers for sludge conditioning were utilized, it was verified that the cost of chemical products consumed was reduced in comparison with the conditioning with lime and ferric chloride. The sludge conditioning with dry polymers and ferric chloride at respective dosages of 4,83 kg/ton and 6,3% resulted in cakes with 31% of solids and density of 1,38 kg/L. On the other hand, the sludge conditioned only with dry polymers at a dosage of 5,38 kg/ton resulted in cakes with 30% of solids and density of 1,08 kg/L, but the cake release from the plates was difficult. The utilization of polymers allowed higher initial filtration rates resulting in a 120 minute filtration period with a consequent reduction of the cycle time.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of employing an electric field to enhance the dewatering performance of two types of biological sludge by a pilot-scale plate and frame filter press. In this work a biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge were collected and tested, respectively. Through the jar testing, it was found that a low molecular weight cationic polymer or medium molecular weight cationic polymer with a dose of 0.008 wt% would yield a satisfactory flocculation for the biological industrial sludge, whereas an iron-based coagulant with a dose of 0.08 wt% would meet the conditioning need of the biological municipal sludge. To find out the optimal dewatering conditions for the concerned sludges, experimental designs based on the Taguchi method were adopted. More specifically, L8(27) and L18(21¡Ñ37) orthogonal arrays were selected for the biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge, respectively. Among others, applied mechanical pressure and time, electrode array, and electrodewatering time were operating parameters of concern. Test results showed that a 10-15% increase of dewatering efficiency for both sludges was obtained for the parallel circuit and parallel series circuit. However, the filtrate quality deteriorated, particularly in pH, turbidity, and chemical oxygen demand. In addition, due to ohmic heating the temperature of filtrate might raise to 80 ¢Jor even higher depending on the operating conditions employed. Thus, the filtrate should be recirculated back to the wastewater treatment system for proper treatment. To find out the significant controlling factors and optimal operating conditions for electrodewatering in a more scientific manner, the final sludge cake moisture and energy consumption for each test was subjected to formal analysis and analysis of variance. For biological industrial sludge, the flocculant type and applied filtration pressure were found to be the most significant controlling factors for the final sludge cake moisture, whereas the applied electric field strength for the power consumption. In the case of biological municipal sludge, however, the electrode array was the most significant controlling factor for both final sludge cake moisture and power consumption. At last, the optimal operating conditions theoretically obtained for electrodewatering were subjected to the respective verification tests for both biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge. Test results showed that a final sludge cake moisture of 67.1¡Ó3.9% and energy consumption of 72.6 kWh/ton dry solids were obtained for the former sludge, whereas 68.1¡Ó3.4% and 18.6 kWh/ton dry solids for the latter sludge. These results validated the predictions made by the Taguchi method. Therefore, it may conclude that electrodewatering is technically and economically feasible for treating both biological industrial sludge and biological municipal through the electrokinetics-assisted filter press system employed in this work.

Solids handling can contribute to a significant portion of the operational costs of a wastewater treatment plant, contributing up to 50% of the total expenses in certain instances. Sludge dewatering and drying therefore become necessary not only from the operational perspective, but also from the economical viewpoint. The J-Vap process combines the above-mentioned processes, by pressure filtration of sludge followed by application of vacuum and heat. However, when cationic polymer conditioned sludge is dewatered in the J-Vap, the polymer is suspected to interact with the filter media at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of a skin layer that hinders efficient dewatering. The first part of the study has looked at various digestion processes and how they affect the skin formation phenomenon. The results showed that temperature played a significant role in determining the amount of polymer that adhered to the filter media. The second part of the study focused on different kinds of digestion processes and their effects on extracellular polymeric substances, bound water content and dewatering. Bound water tests were used to determine the maximum achievable solids concentration on dewatering. Bound water content of solids obtained from field centrifuges run at different torques and g values were evaluated and fitted on a standard graph obtained from lab pressed sludge with different solids concentration. The bound water was seen to decrease with increasing solids content till 20%, after which a nearly constant 1.0 g of bound water was present for every gram of dry solids seen. The results indicate that nearly 50% solids concentration could be achieved on mechanical dewatering. In reality, only 30 to 35% solids concentration was attained both in the lab and on the field. It was determined that dilatometry attributed the increase in cake solids to the decrease in bound water. However, the use of bound water as a predictive tool for determining cake solids was not practical since the bound water calculations use the solids content in the calculations. / Master of Science

Dans un contexte d’augmentation des volumes de boues résiduaires produits, comprendre et optimiser les processus de déshydratation mécanique est crucial. Leurs performances conditionnent tant le fonctionnement global de la station que son bilan environnemental et économique. En effet, la siccité des boues déshydratées impacte fortement les procédés ou filières permettant leur valorisation à l’échelle des territoires (compostage, valorisation agronomique directe, incinération, …) ainsi que leur bilan environnemental direct et indirect (tonnages à transporter, ...). De plus, les filtrats devront être traités par la station, et leur composition influence significativement le fonctionnement de la filière de traitement des eaux. Les filtres-presses font partie des procédés de déshydratation mécanique les plus utilisés dans les filières boues des stations d’épuration des eaux usées. Leurs performances sont fonction à la fois de leurs paramètres de fonctionnement et des propriétés de la boue à déshydrater. Les connaissances actuelles sont cependant insuffisantes pour permettre (1) d’expliquer pourquoi certaines boues se déshydratent mieux que d’autres et (2) de relier ces phénomènes aux processus mis en oeuvre lors de la déshydratation mécanique. Le poste de déshydratation fonctionne ainsi comme une boîte noire à partir de laquelle il est difficile de prédire les performances d’un outil de déshydratation appliqué à une boue particulière et d’anticiper des dysfonctionnements. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de ce travail de thèse était de comprendre quels sont les facteurs de contrôle des performances de la déshydratation mécanique des boues d’épuration en filtre-presse et comment ces derniers impactent le fonctionnement du procédé. Dans un premier temps, l’impact des paramètres de fonctionnement des filtres-presses sur leurs performances a été étudié en cellule de filtration tangentielle (cellule de laboratoire reproduisant les processus d’un filtre presse industriel). Ce travail a permis de hiérarchiser les paramètres opératoires selon leur impact sur les performances de déshydratation. Cette étude a permis de mettre en évidence que le paramètre le plus sensible est l’épaisseur de gâteau suivi de la pression. L’impact de ces paramètres est en partie lié à celui du gradient de pression sur les équations de la filtration même si ce dernier doit être considéré en 3D pour expliquer les résultats observés. Dans un second temps l’étude de l’impact des propriétés des boues sur les performances de déshydratation a été réalisée. Pour ce faire, ce travail s’est focalisé sur l’impact d’un des procédés qui modifie le plus les propriétés des boues : la digestion anaérobie. L’objectif de ce travail était d’identifier comment le temps de séjour hydraulique (TSH) appliqué dans le digesteur influence les propriétés physicochimiques des boues et les performances de déshydratation évaluées au travers d’essais de déshydratation en cellule de filtration tangentielle. Cette phase a permis de montrer que quand le TSH augmente de 0 à un TSHcritique, la déshydratabilité de la boue diminue. Au-delà de ce TSHcritique, cette dernière s’améliore sans pour autant atteindre celle de la boue brute. Ces phénomènes ont pu être reliés à une modification des équilibres osmotiques entre les flocs et le milieu interstitiel couplée à une modification de la matrice d’exopolymères solubles des flocs. Enfin, un modèle numérique permettant de simuler la déshydratation des boues résiduaires a été implémenté sous COMSOL multiphysics®. Au travers des processus modélisés, il prend en compte les principaux facteurs de contrôle des performances identifiés auparavant. Après ajustement des paramètres sur un unique essai de déshydratation à une pression donnée, le modèle permet de prédire la siccité du gâteau pour une pression comprise entre 3 et 15 bars. / As more and more sewage sludge are generated, understanding and optimization of mechanical dewatering processes is crucial. Their performances affect both plant management and its environmental and economic impacts. Indeed, dryness of dewatered sludge strongly impacts processes for agronomic and energetic recovery (composting, direct agricultural recycling, incineration ...) and their direct and indirect environmental impacts (volumes to transport...). In addition, the filtrates have to be treated by the wastewater treatment plant, and their composition significantly affects its operating. Filter presses are one of the most common mechanical dewatering processes operated for sludge treatment in wastewater treatment plant. Their performance depends on their operating parameters and sludge properties. However, current knowledge is insufficient (1) to explain why some sludges are easier or harder to dewater than others, and (2) to link these phenomena to processes that carry out during the mechanical dewatering. Hence, dewatering works like a black box from which it is difficult to predict the efficiency of a dewatering tool performed with a particular sludge and to anticipate operating problems. In this context, the objective of this thesis was to understand witch factors drive the efficiency of mechanical dewatering of sewage sludge in the filter press and how they impact the process. First, the impact of operating parameters of filter presses on their efficiency was investigated in cross-flow filtration cell (lab-scale cross-flow filtration cell reproducing processes that occur in an industrial filter press). This work allowed the classification of the operating parameters according to their impact on the dewatering performances. This study highlighted that the most sensitive parameter is the cake thickness followed by pressure. The impact of these parameters is partially linked with their influence on the pressure gradient even if it should be considered in 3D to explain the results. Secondly, the study of the impact of sludge properties on dewatering performances was carried out. In this thesis, this work focuses on the impact of one of the processes which modifies most significantly sludge properties: anaerobic digestion. The objective of this work was to identify how hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the digester affects physicochemical properties of sludge and dewatering performance. Results demonstrated that when the HRT increases from 0 to a critical HRT (HRTcritical), sludge dewaterability decreases. Beyond this HRTcritical, it increases without reaching cake dryness of the raw sludge. These phenomena could be linked to a change in osmotic balance between the flocs and the bulk solution, combined with a modification of the soluble exopolymer matrix of flocs. Finally, a numerical model, allowing the simulation of sludge dewatering was implemented with COMSOL multiphysics®. Equation system takes into account the main factors that affect performances previously identified. After parameter calibration on a single dewatering experiment at 8 bars, the model allows the prediction of cake dryness for any pressure between 3 and 15 bars.

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