SLUDGE DIGESTION PROCESS

The sludge withdrawn from the sedimentation basins contains a lot of putrescible organic
matter, and if disposed of without any treatment, the organic matter may decompose, producing
foul gases and a lot of nuisance,pollution,and health hazards. In order to avoid such
pollutions,the sludge is,first of all,stabilized by decomposing the organic matter under controlled
anaerobic conditions,and then disposed of suitably after drying on drying beds,etc. The process
of stabilisation is called sludge digestion. In sludge digestion process , the sludge gets broken in
to the following three forms:
(i)

Digested sludge: It is a stable humus like solid matter,tary black in colour,and with
reduced moisture content,and therefore,having reduced volume. It is free of pathogenic
bacteriawhich are killed in the digestion process

(ii)

Supernatant liquor: It includes the liquified and finely divided solid matter,and is
having high BOD

(iii)

Gases of decomposition: Gases like methane, CO2 and traces of other inert gases like
nitrogen,H2S,etc are evolved. They may be collected and used as a fuel.
The sludge gas,having 70% CH4 has a fuel value of about 5800kilocalorie/cu.m.
The average is about 0.9 cu.m.per kg of volatile solids reduced in digestion. The gas
produced thus varies with the sewage produced,and works up to about 14 to 18 litres
per capita per day.
The digested sludge is dewatered,dried up and used as fertilizer;while the gases
produced, are also used for fuel or for driving gas engines. The supernatant liquior
contains about 1500 to 3000 ppm of suspended solids ; and is therefore,retreated at the
treatment plant along with the raw sewage.

Stages in the sludge digestion process

3 stages
1.Acid fermentation
2.Acid regression
3.Alkaline fermentation
Acid fermentation stage or acid production stage
In the first stage of sludge digestion , the fresh sewage sludge begins to be acted
upon by anaerobic and facultative bacteria called acid formers.These organisms solubilize the
organic solids through hydrolysis.Gases like CH4, CO2,H2S are evolved.ph is lowered to less than
6.
Acid regression stage
In this intermediate stage, the volatile organic acids and nitrogenous compounds
of the first stage,are attacked by the nacteria,so as to form acid carbonates and ammonia
compounds.small amounts of hydrogen sulphide and carbon di oxide gases are also given
off.This stage continues for a period of about 3 months or so.BOD of the sludge remains high
even during this stage.
Alkaline fermentation
In this final stage of sludge digestion,more resistant materials like proteins and
organic acids are attacked and broken up by anaerobic bacteria called methane formers, in to
simple substances like ammonia,organic acids and gases.During this stage the liquid seperates
out from the solids and the digested sludge is formed.This sludge is granular and stable.This
digested sludge is collected at the bottom of the digestion tank,and is also called ripened
sludge.Large amount of methane gas along with small amount of CO2 and nitrogen,are evolved
during this stage.The BOD of the sludge also rapidly falls down during this stage.

Factors affecting sludge digestion and their control

The important factors are,
1.Temperature
2.PH value
3.Seeding with digested sludge
4.Mixing and stirring of the raw sludge with digested sludge.
Besides these important factors, certain other minor conditions like quality of water supply,
presence of copper, fluorides, and radio active substances,etc. may also affect the rate of digestion but not
to any appreciable extent. The important factors which are largely responsible for controlling the rate and
effectiveness of sludge- digestion are,
1.Temperature
The process of digestion is greatly influenced by temperature; rate of digestion being more at higer
temperatures and vice versa. The effect of temperature on digestion period is shown in the fig: in this
figure , two distinct temperature zones are indicated, ie,
a.Zone of thermophilic digestion
In this zone of high temperature, digestion is brought about by heat loving thermophilic
organisms. The temperature in this zone ranges between 40-60C. The obtimum temperature in this
zone is about 54C, and at this temperature, the digestion period can be brought down to about 10-15
days only. However thermoplilic range temperatures are generally not employed for digesting sewage
sludge, owing to odours and othr operational difficulties.
b.Zone of Mesophilic Digestion
In this zone of moderate temperature, digestion is brought about by common mesophilic
organisms. The temperature in this zone ranges between 25 to 40 C. The optimum mesophilic
temperature is about 29C; and at this temperature, the digestion period can be brought down to about
30 days.
Hence, it can be concluded that the sludge can be quickly digested, if the temperature in the
digestion tank is kept high. The best results are obtained at about 29C when about 90% of digestion
takes place in about 30 days.

2.pH value
It was pointed about earlier that during the digestion process, a lot of volatile organic acids are
formed, as an intermediate step, in the breakdown of organic material. These volatile acids are then
converted into methane gas by a specialized group of strictly anaerobic and slow growing bacteria, called
methane formers. If the methane formers are not operating properly, an accumulation of volatile acids
may occur, causing the pH to drop to a value as low as 5.0, which will suppress further bacterial action.
Hence,during digestion , care must be taken to keep the acidity well under control, so that the pH during
the digester start-up does not go below 6.5 or so, and thus to see that alkaline conditions may prevail
ultimately, in the final stage of digestion.
The acidity increases,(i) with the overdosing of raw sludge; (ii) with the over withdrawal of
digested sludge ; and (iii) with the sudden admission of industrial wastes. The remedy in such cases is to
add hydrated lime in doses of 2.3 to 4.5 kg per 100 persons to the raw sludge.
3.Seeding with the Digested sludge.
When a sluge digestion tank is first put in operation, it is highly beneficial to seed it with the
digested sludge from another tank. Without seeding, it may take a few months to get a tank operating
properly. Proper seeding will help attain quickly balance conditions of reaction.
4.Mixing and Stirring of the Raw sludge with the digested sludge.
Incoming fresh raw sludge should be thoroughly mixed with the digested sludge, by some
effective method of agitation, so as to make a homogenous mass of raw as well as digested sludge. In this
way, the bacterial enzymes present in the digested sludge will get every opportunity to get mixed with the
raw sludge, and to attack it for subsequent decomposition.
The mixing of raw and digested sludge achieved by stirring the sludge in the sludge digestion
tank by slow moving mechanical device ; or the gases of decomposition may be used to set up agitation
by circulating from bottom to top of the tank and viceversa, by means of pumping device. Excessive
stirring may produce harmfull effects as it may kills the bacteria. The proper stirring however, results in
even distribution of incoming sludge,breaks and reduces the scum ,and helps in increasing the production
of gases.
In the cold countries, where it is necessary to heat the digestion tanks, so as to maintain optimum
mesophilic temperature, the stirring may helps in transmitting heat from the heating coil to the tank
contents, and thus to attain uniform temperature throughout the tank.