Optimizing the synergistic effect of sodium hydroxide/ultrasound pre-treatment of sludge

Tian, Xinbo and Ng, Wun Jern and Trzcinski, Antoine P. (2018) Optimizing the synergistic effect of sodium hydroxide/ultrasound pre-treatment of sludge. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 48. pp. 432-440. ISSN 1350-4177

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Abstract

Ultrasound (ULS), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and combined ultrasound/NaOH pre-treatment were applied to pre-treat waste activated sludge and improve the subsequent anaerobic digestion. Synergistic effect was observed when NaOH treatment was coupled with ultrasound treatment. The highest synergistic Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) solubilization was observed when 0.02M NaOH was combined with five minutes ultrasonication: an extra 3,000 mg/L was achieved on top of the NaOH (1,975 mg/L) and ultrasonication (2,900 mg/L) treatment alone. Further increase of NaOH dosage increased Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (SCOD), but did not increase the synergistic effect. Nine minutes and 18 minutes ultrasonication led to 20% and 24% increase of methane production, respectively; Whereas, 0.05M NaOH pre-treatment did not improve the sludge biodegradability. Combined ultrasound/NaOH (9min+0.05M) showed 31% increase of methane production. A stepwise NaOH addition/ultrasound pre-treatment (0.02M+ULS for 5 min + 0.02M+ULS for 4 min) was tested and resulted in 40% increase
of methane production using 20% less chemicals.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	First online 05/07/2018. Permanent restricted access to Publisher's Accepted version in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Faculty / Department / School:	Current - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Date Deposited:	17 Jul 2018 01:23
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2018 01:53
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Waste Activated Sludge (WAS); ultrasonication; NaOH; pre-treatment; anaerobic biodegradability
Fields of Research :	09 Engineering > 0904 Chemical Engineering > 090409 Wastewater Treatment Processes 05 Environmental Sciences > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management 09 Engineering > 0907 Environmental Engineering > 090703 Environmental Technologies
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970109 Expanding Knowledge in Engineering D Environment > 96 Environment > 9611 Physical and Chemical Conditions of Water > 961101 Physical and Chemical Conditions of Water for Urban and Industrial Use
Identification Number or DOI:	10.1016/j.ultsonch.2018.07.005
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/34410

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