Performance and stability of biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic digestion system coupling with alkali addition strategy for sewage sludge treatment

Wastewater treatment plants are particularly challenging with the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge produced from the treatment units due to its high costs and environmental hazards. In this study, a biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic digestion (AD) system was developed with upward shear force being provided by biogas recirculation coupled with the alkali addition strategy, targeting biogas upgrading, sludge stabilization, and sludge flocculation simultaneously, thus reducing the sludge management costs. Compared to the conventional AD system, the novel biogas recirculation-driven AD system could achieve biogas upgrading with 10% higher CH4 content. Besides, the combination of NaOH and Ca(OH)(2) addition strategy obviously improved sludge settleability and dewaterability compared to the single NaOH addition strategy. Owing to the attraction between negatively charged sludge partides and Ca2+ ions, the available Ca2+ in the former AD system may facilitate the re-flocculation and P immobilization in solid digestate, fix partial CO2 with less CO2 emission, and bridge with some sludge flocs. Moreover, 12.6% lower net cost for sludge management was achieved by this biogas recirculation-driven AD system together with the combination alkali addition strategy, which is regarded as a promising integrated multi-purpose system for sludge treatment. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic digestion system was developed in this study, coupled with an alkali addition strategy, which not only improved biogas upgrading efficiency but also enhanced sludge settleability and dewaterability, reducing sludge management costs.