Effect of low temperature microwave pretreatment on characteristics and mesophilic digestion of primary sludge

The main obstacles existing in the biodegradation of primary sludge are particle de-amalgamation and the degradation-resisting structure of large-size particulate. Microwave irradiation solubilizes primary sludge by interaction of the electromagnetic field with polar particles in the sludge, which leads to a temperature increase in the irradiated sample. The influence of microwave irradiation on the characteristics and biochemical methane potential of microwave-pretreated primary sludge was studied in terms of microwave intensity (40 and 80% of total microwave power), sludge solid concentration (1 to 4% total solids, w/v) and pretreatment temperature achieved (35 to 90 C). Microwave irradiation was found to increase the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand in the sludge. The ratio of soluble to total chemical oxygen demand increased from 2.5 to between 6 and 7% for primary sludge with 4% total solids concentration at a pretreatment temperature of 90 C. In biochemical methane potential tests, biogas production rate increased with both pretreatment temperature and sludge total solids concentrations. For primary sludge with 4% total solids concentration pretreated to 90 C, biogas production rate increased by 37% or resulted in a 28% reduction in required digestion time to achieve 85% of the ultimate biogas production. A first-order reaction model showed a constant increase in the biogas production rate coefficient with the increase in microwave pretreatment temperature. Microwave intensity in the range of pretreatment temperatures studied (35 to 90 C) presented no obvious impact on primary sludge solubilization or anaerobic digestion in terms of ultimate biodegradation efficiency.