appropriate for the disintegration of microbial sludge cells [1]. ... The full scale experiences are positive and the ULTRAWAVES technology has proved effective ...
Improving anaerobic and aerobic degradation of waste water sludges by ultrasonic disintegration Klaus NICKEL, Anna LUNDEN, Alexander HOUY ET Uwe NEIS, SAUR – STEREAU & ULTRWAVES SONOTRONICS
It has been verified and it is known that low frequency, high intensity ultrasound is appropriate for the disintegration of microbial sludge cells [1]. This presents several opportunities for sludge minimization on municipal and industrial waste water treatment plants. Up to this point, there is three to five years experience on full scale treatment plants with the ultrasound system. The applications have demonstrated that: 1. The aerobic degradation can be intensified, i.e. for the minimization of sludge mass [2]. 2. The anaerobic degradation can increase, i.e. additional biogas – a renewable energy source – production [3]. 3. Floating, bulking and foaming sludge, resulting from excessive growth of filamentous organisms, can be combated and eliminated [2]. The full scale experiences are positive and the ULTRAWAVES technology has proved effective under continuous operation for the three applications noted above. The ultrasound reactor can be installed at several different points on the waste water treatment plant depending on which of the applications the operator wishes to focus on. Consequently, the technology is flexible as well as specific and is advantageous seen from various angles. Depending on the set-up and conditions at the plant and the application, the return of investment falls between three and five years. The ULTRAWAVES ultrasound reactor is sold in France by STEREAU under the name of SONOFLUX®.
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Figure 1. Options for installation of ultrasound reactor on municipal waste water treatment plant.
Feedback:
WWTP of Bamberg, Germany - 280 000 PE: Ultrasound sludge disintegration for anaerobic digestion acceleration and enhancement (2002)
WWTP of Bünde, Germany - 54 000 PE: Ultrasound disintegration of sewage sludge used as internal carbon source for denitrification (2006)
WWTP of Meldorf, Germany - 70 000 PE: Ultrasound sludge disintegration for intensification of aerobic sludge stabilization (2004)
WWTP of Leinetal, Germany - 50 000 PE: Ultrasound sludge disintegration dor combating foaming sludge (2002)
References: [1] Nickel, K., Neis, U. (2007) Ultrasonic disintegration of biosolids for improved biodegradation, Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, Vol. 14, 4, 450-455. [2] Article in Press: Neis, U., Nickel, K., Lundén, A. (2008) Improving anaerobic and aerobic degradation by ultrasonic degradation of biomass, Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Corresponding to Abstract 401, IWA Specialist Conferences, Facing Sludge Diversities: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities. Antalya, Turkey: March, 2007. [3] Wolff, H.J., Nickel, K., Houy, A., Lundén, A., Neis, U. (2007) Two years experience on a large German STP with acoustic disintegration of waste activated sludge for improved anaerobic digestion. Proc. Bioenergy for our future, 11th IWA World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September, Brisbane, Australia.
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