Thermal hydrolysis of waste activated sludge at Hengelo wastewater treatment plant, the Netherlands

Abstract

The thermal hydrolysis process (THP) is a sludge treatment technique which affects anaerobic biodegradability, viscosity and dewaterability of waste activated sludge (WAS).

In 2011, a THP-pilot plant was operated, connected to laboratory-scale digesters, at the water board Regge en Dinkel and in cooperation with Cambi and MWH Global. Thermal hydrolysis of WAS resulted in a 62% greater volatile solids (VS) reduction compared to non-hydrolysed sludge. The pilot digesters could be operated at a 2.3 times higher solids loading rate compared to conventional sludge digesters.

By application of thermal sludge hydrolysis, the overall efficiency of the sludge treatment process can be improved.

Download or read the full article in Water Science & Technology.