Bioengineering approach for sewage sludge degradation through aerobic thermophilic process

Abstract

The aerobic thermophilic sewage sludge treatment process was studied at various bioreactor scales through modified bioengineering design approach. The effectiveness of the biological system was controlled by varying the process operating conditions of bioreactor to enhance microbial degradation efficiency. The inactivation of pathogen each promoted by increase of temperature, while the residual CFU was lowered by reducing the total solids content of sewage sludge. The optimum sludge degradation through aerobic thermophilic process occurred in temperature range of 58 - 62^oC but temperature more than 60^oC was suitable for hygienic inactivation. Dual digestion systems of an aerobic theromophilic treatment followed by anaerobic thermophilic stabilization stage shows greater treatment and efficiency in degrading the organic sludge constituting up to seventy per cent.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v37i2.17556

Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 37, No. 2, 159-163, 2013