Sludge is a product of wastewater treatment, and is the common term for the main waste stream that is created during the water purification process. Clean water cannot be recovered unless this sludge is separated from it. There are multiple processes that can achieve this process. Some sludge can also be recycled to form biosolids, which have many applications in the agricultural realm.
Separating the solids from the wastewater is an integral part in water treatment. How that separation happens – and how the sludge is disposed of – can make a difference in what happens after the process is complete.
How is Sludge Separated From Water?
There are a few ways that this sludge is pulled from the wastewater during the treatment process. One of the main ways is by using a sludge centrifuge – which is a large bowl that spins at very high speeds. Using the properties of centrifugal force, the high speeds pull the solids outward, away from the liquid. Once free of the solids, the water is drained, leaving the sludge behind.
Sludge is generally a mix of organic matter, which can be anything from food waste to human waste to other trace chemicals and inorganic solids from things we use every day. The sludge centrifuge can separate the solids from the wastewater at a microscopic level, but these solids can also be filtered from the liquid through a filtration process. Many times, a combination of these different methods is used to ensure optimal separation.
What Happens to Sludge After It’s Separated?
Because of the nature of the material that makes up sludge, it’s important that it is disposed ofproperly to prevent any other contamination. Once treated, the sludge has a few common uses. It can be used as agricultural fertilizer, or used as biosolid compost in agriculture and/or landscaping. It can also be dried and added to a landfill, or simply incinerated.
This is an important part of the wastewater treatment process for a variety of reasons. Treating sludge can reduce the harmful microorganisms in the sludge, which decreases health risks. Another main objective of this process is to reduce or eliminate the total amount of this waste by eliminating it properly. This can stabilize some of the matter that would later turn into gases that are harmful to the environment and the atmosphere.
What Are Biosolids?
Biosolids are defined as sewage sludge that has undergone sufficient treatment to stabilize the solids and reduce pathogens. These are commonly used for land applications, such as landscaping. This higher-quality treated sewage have also been successfully used to reduce the amount of toxic substances found in soil, control erosion, and regenerate damaged soils. Biosolids have to meet the EPA pollutant and pathogen requirements to be used for these land applications.
Separating the sludge from the wastewater is just part of the process, and making sure that those wastes that are pulled don’t harm the environment is also very important. For more information on sludge centrifuges, or on the process of separating solids from wastewater, contact the experts at Diamond T Services today.