This Diploma’s thesis is addressing the issues of technical drying, principles and types of technical drying, solar drying possible usefulness of sewage sludge in the Czech Republic, its availability during the season, the legislation related to the processing of sewage sludge and design of pilot scale solar dryer.

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The purpose of this study was to determine how chemical conditioning agents and mechanical dewatering devices affect sludge dewatering with respect to shear. Bench scale experiments were performed to determine the effect of shear and mole charge on polymer dose requirements using anaerobically digested sludge. Lime, ferric chloride, and polymer were used to condition anaerobically digested sludge to evaluate the influence of these conditioning agents, separately and in combination, on shear resistance. Dewatering studies were performed using a plate and frame press, a centrifuge, and a screw press to determine the amount of shear within each device and to develop a means of estimating polymer dose for each device. It was determined that increased molecular charge of polymer decreased chemical dose requirements and improved shear resistance. Both lime and ferric chloride improved sludge dewatering rates but only ferric chloride conditioned against shear. Ferric chloride addition prior to polymer conditioning improved sludge shear resistance, improved the dewatering rate (CST), and decreased the required polymer dose. The dewatering study using the plate and frame press verified that polymer dose could be estimated using CST values and a Gt value of approximately 30,000. Also, ferric chloride in combination with polymer improved filtrate quality, increased the cake solids concentration, and increased the filtrate volume throughput of sludge conditioned with lower polymer doses than if polymer alone was used. The dewatering study using a high speed centrifuge found that polymer dose could be estimated using CST values at a Gt between 10,000 and 20,000 or by use of the wedge zone simulator. The dewatering study of the screw press found that CST values and the wedge zone simulator under predicted polymer dose. This was thought to be the result of shear in the feed system prior to dewatering. / Master of Science

Research was conducted in 1984 and 1985 to determine N and P availabilities for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and com ( Zea mays L.) grown on four sludge-amended soils. Tests were conducted on the Acredale silt loam (Typic Ochraquall), Bojac loamy sand (Typic Hapludult), Davidson clay loam (Rhodic Paleudult), and Groseclose silt loam (Typic Hapludult) soils. An aerobically·digested sewage sludge from a sewage treatment plant with major industrial irrputs was applied at rates of 0, 42, and 84 dry Mg ha' 1 on the poorly-drained Acredale soil. Rates of 0, 42, 84, 126, 168, and 210 dry Mg ha'1 were applied on the well-drained Bojac, Davidson, and Groseclose soils. The 210 dry Mg haâ 1 sludge rate supplied 3300 and 6600 kg of N and P haâ 1, respectively. A 14-day anaerobic N incubation study indicated that mirreralization varied from approximately nine to four percent of sludge N from the 42 to 210 Mg haâ 1 application rates, respectively. Sludge application increased N uptake (rz = 0.98** to 0.99**) by the 1984 com grown on the three well-drained soils. Nitrogen balance data indicated that quantities of unrecovered N ranged from six to 21 percent where sludge was applied. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment alternatives for a leachate from a municipal landfill in Roanoke County, Virginia. A continuous flow, laboratory scale, single sludge waste treatment system utilizing the Modified Ludzack Ettinger (MLE) nitrification/denitrification process with the addition of phosphorus and methanol was operated to determine its effectiveness in removing total nitrogen, organic compounds and metals from the leachate. The system was compared with the effectiveness of a totally aerobic activated sludge system operated in various configurations and at different mean cell residence times (MCRT’s) with and without the addition of methanol. The ability of activated carbon to remove organics from the leachate was briefly examined. The early results from this study indicated that the MLE process could successfully treat the leachate by removing up to 84% of the total nitrogen present while operating at high MCRT’s (eight days or greater). The MLE process removed as much as 56% of the total nitrogen at the lowest MCRT operated (1.5 days), By comparison, a maximum removal of only 30% was achieved for the completely aerobic activated sludge system operating under the same conditions. The MLE process and the completely aerobic process were not effective in removing the organics from the leachate as evidenced by a leachate COD removal of only 2% to 5%. Limited studies with activated carbon proved successful in substantially reducing the COD from the effluent of the biological treatment systems. The MLE process consistently reduced the iron concentration in the leachate from the average level of 18.6 mg/l to levels below 1.0 mg/l. Towards the end of this 584-day study, there were indications that toxic agents were intermittently entering the leachate from the landfill as evidenced by two episodes of severe nitrification inhibition during operating periods when nitrification should have been essentially complete. This raises doubts concerning the ability of biological nitrification/denitrification to successfully treat the Dixie Caverns landfill leachate on a long-term basis without special treatment for the removal of the unknown toxic components. / Master of Science

A four-year experiment, conducted at the Mesa Agricultural Center, studied the use of dried sewage sludge from the City of Phoenix as a source of plant nutrients in the commercial production of barley grain. The objective was to compare the effects of sewage sludge and commercial fertilizer on barley growth, grain yield, and quality. Three fertilizer treatments were used: (1) suggested rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in Arizona; (2) dried sewage sludge to supply plant-available N in amounts equal to the suggested rate; and (3) N, P, and K from inorganic fertilizers, in amounts equal to those in sewage sludge. Characteristics of barley growth, grain yield, and quality were similar for the three fertilizer treatments. Barley can use the fertilizer nutrients in dried sewage sludge to produce grain as effectively as it can utilize the fertilizer nutrients in inorganic fertilizer.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the responses of barley and wheat to sewage sludge loading rates of 150 to 750 lb /acre plant-available N and to recommended inorganic N (150 lb/ acre). All sewage sludge rates delayed maturity in both barley and wheat. Sludge loading rates up to 450 lb /acre of plant-available N increased vegetative growth and grain yield in both crops. Sludge rates higher than 450 lb/acre of plant-available N resulted in a reduction in the number of plants per pot; however, the stand reduction was greater for wheat than for barley.

Experiments were conducted in Avra Valley, Arizona, to study the use of digested liquid sewage sludge as a source of plant nutrients in the commercial production of green-chopped feed and hay from wheat. Wheat grown with the recommended amount of plant-available nitrogen from sewage sludge produced more green-chopped feed and hay than did wheat grown with the same amount of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer. Wheat green-chopped feed and hay grown with sewage sludge and inorganic fertilizer had similar livestock feeding qualities. Fertilizing wheat with sewage sludge delayed maturity.

Experiments were conducted in Avra Valley, Arizona, to study the use of digested liquid sewage sludge as a source of plant nutrients in the commercial production of grain and straw from wheat. Wheat grown with the recommended amount of plant -available nitrogen from sewage sludge produced the same grain yield as wheat grown with the same amount of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer. Wheat grain and straw grown with sewage sludge and inorganic fertilizer had similar livestock feeding qualities. Fertilizing wheat with sewage sludge delayed maturity.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management