ROUTES

Novel processing routes for effective sewage sludge management

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The Routes project is addressed to discover new routes in wastewater and sludge treatment which allow: a) to prepare sludge for agricultural utilization by transforming it in a very clean and stabilized product regarding the presence of organic micropollutants (conventional and emerging ones) and of heavy metals, and with respect to hygienic aspects and to phytotoxicity; b) to minimize sludge production by innovative solutions which can be based on different approaches, i.e.: i) metabolic uncoupling where the free energy released by electrons transport is dissipated in heat, in the activation of alternative metabolic routes or in the accumulation of polymeric products, ii) the use of microbial fuel cells, iii) the use of sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR), iiii) the integration of a side-stream process in membrane bioreactors; c) to promote recovery of valuable materials from anaerobic digestion, i.e. biopolymers as polyhydroxyalkanoates and fertilizers; e) to set up and prove at practical scale a novel technique for sludge disposal (wet oxidation) as sustainable alternative to nowadays the most used incineration; f) to minimize energy pumping by adjusting solid concentration, on a practical installation where sludge is pumped from the production site to a centralized plant. The general objective of the Routes proposal is therefore to set up a panel of different solutions to be applied in different conditions and circumstances, strictly following the waste hierarchy of the Directive 08/98 on waste. The above solutions will be studied either in laboratory or at practical scale, depending on the maturity of the technology, in order to provide to the Commission and the technical and scientific community applicable solutions and new routes for sludge management, also based on the best integration between the water and sludge treatment lines.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project is looking at developing new techniques for sewage sludge treatment in different situations. The research will aim to improve sludge quality for its use in agriculture, minimise sludge production and recover valuable resources prior to disposal.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Research is underway as part of the 'Novel processing routes for effective sewage sludge management' (ROUTES) project. Specifically, testing is taking place at laboratory-, pilot- and full-scale levels on three different plants (Grottamareand Treviso in Italy and Kloten/Opfikon in Switzerland).

The team is examining various ways to process and sanitise sludge destined for use in agriculture. One process involves a thermal pre-treatment at 135 degrees Celsius, followed by digestion by heat-loving organisms. This allows for the removal of a number of volatile solids, significant biogas production and sanitisation. The most reliable parameter allowing to assess sanitation were proved to be Escherichia coli, Salmonella and somatic coliphages, the latter one being much more effective than enteric viruses. Also important in sludge processing is the recovery of valuable resources such as biofuels, ammonium sulphate and biopolymers.

Minimising sludge production is another key step to sludge management. Techniques that have proven successful include the use of a bio-filter operating in a sequencing mode, called SBBGR, able to produce granular biomass and microbial electrolytic cells (MECs).

Safe disposal of the sludge is required once resource recovery and use in agriculture is no longer possible. One can achieve this using an innovative wet oxidation process, which is a suitable alternative to the current process of incineration.

The project hopes to eventually establish new criteria for sustainable sludge management in different situations. And, the research results are set to offer support to EU policies, strategies and plans associated with sewage sludge management.