The object of this study is to feasibility assesment for co-digestion efficiency of food waste recycling wastewater(FWR) with thermal hydrolysis process dehydration cake (THP Sludge). As a result of THP pre-treatment experimental conditions to 160oC and 30 minutes, the solubility rate(conversion rate of TCOD to SCOD) of the THP sludge increased by 34%. And the bio-methane potential in the THP sludge increased by about 1.42 times from 0.230 to 0.328 m3 CH4/kg VS compared to the non-pre-treatment. The substrates of the co-digestion reactor were FWR and THP sludge at a 1:1 ratio. Whereas, only FWR was used as a substrate in the digestion reactor as a control group. The experimental conditions are 28.5 days of hydraulic retention time(HRT) and 3.5 kg VS/m3-day of organic loading rate(OLR). During the 120 days operation period, the co-digestion reactor was able to operate stably in terms of water quality and methane production, but the FWR digestion reactor deteriorated after 90 days, and methane production decreased to 0.233 m3 CH4/kg VS, which is 67% of normal condition. After 120 days of the experiment, organic loading rate(OLR) of co-digestion reactor was gradually increased to 4.5 kg VS/m3-day and operated for 80 days. Methane production during 80 days was evaluated to be good at the level of 0.349 m3 CH4/kg VS. As a result of evaluating the dehydration efficiency of the sludge before/after 150-180oC THP using a filter press, it was confirmed that the moisture content of the sludge treated before THP at 180oC was 75% and improved by 8% from 83-85% level. Therefore, it is expected that the co-digestion reactor of FWR and THP sludge will ensure stable treatment water quality and increase bio-methane production and reduction effect of dehydration sludge volume.

The performance of the new aerobic digestion system combined with inorganic sludge separation unit and sludge solubilization unit, CaviTec II, is evaluated. Anaerobic digester effluent sludge is used for feed sludge of CaviTec II system. By addition of CaviTec II, the amount of cake generated is reduced by 27%, and the soluble nitrogen is reduced by 92%.

The feasibility study of using converter slag as a solidifying agent of digested sewage sludge cake has been performed. The availability of converter slag as solidifying agent has been investigated by several trial tests. Based on the trial test results, the optimum mixing ratios of sludge cake and solidification additive are estabilished. Finally the solidification characters of sludge cake are elucidated by SEM and EDS. It is ascertained that converter slag with a small amount of quicklime enhences the solidification. From the result of pH test, overall pH of specimens tends to decrease slowly with curing time. After solidifying specimens had been cured for 7 days, these are water-cured for 24 hours. The weight and strength of all the specimens are nearly the same regardless of the mixed ratios of solidifying agent. The result of leaching tests for four heavy metal ions, Cd, $Cr^{6+}$, Pb and Cu show that the leaching strength becomes below the decision criteria of the specific wastes, respectively. The SEM observation of the delicate structure shows that needlelike crystals appear after solidification which are not observed before. From the EDS analysis, it is found that the main ingredients of needlelike crystals are Ca, Si, Al and O.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of digestion temperature on the settleability and dewaterability of anaerobically digested sludge. The digesters were operated at a hydraulic retention time of 20 days with a loading rate of 0.63~0.66kg volatile solids per cubic meter per day at the temperature of $35^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$. A mixed primary and secondary municipal sludge was used as a feed. The interface height of the sludge during settling test was recorded to identify settleability. As a measure of dewaterability of the sludge, specific resistance and capillary suction time were also measured with and without chemical conditioning. Higher digestion efficiency was obtained at $55^{\circ}C$ than $35^{\circ}C$. However, the settleability and dewaterability of the sludge at $35^{\circ}C$ were quite higher than those of the sludge digested at $55^{\circ}C$. The optimum dosages of ferric chloride for sludge conditioning were 0.4% and 0.6% at $35^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. The filtrate COD of the sludge digested at $55^{\circ}C$ was higher than at $35^{\circ}C$, which means that poor dewaterability of the sludge result in high filtrate COD.

This study evaluated the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of primary sludge, secondary sludge, and food waste in batch anaerobic mono-digestion tests, and investigated the effects of mixture ratio of those organic wastes on methane yield and production rate in batch anaerobic co-digestion tests, that were designed based on a simplex mixture design method. The BMP of primary sludge, secondary sludge and food waste were determined as 234.2, 172.7, and 379.1 mL CH4/g COD, respectively. The relationships between the mixing ratio of those organic wastes with methane yield and methane production rate were successfully expressed in special cubic models. Both methane yield and methane production rate were estimated as higher when the mixture ratio of food waste was higher. At a mixing ratio of 0.5 and 0.5 for primary sludge and food waste, the methane yield of 297.9 mL CH4/g COD was expected; this was 19.4% higher than that obtained at a mixing ratio of 0.3333, 0.3333 and 0.3333 for primary sludge, secondary sludge, and food waste (249.5 mL CH4/g COD). These findings could be useful when designing field-scale anaerobic digersters for mono- and co-digestion of sewage sludges and food waste.

This study investigated microbial communities and their diversity in a full-scale mesophilic anaerobic digester treating sewage sludge. Influent sewage sludge and anaerobic digester samples collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Busan were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. It was found that the microbial community structure and diversity in the anaerobic digester could be affected by inoculation effect with influent sewage sludge. Nevertheless, distinct microbial communities were identified as the dominant microbial communities in the anaerobic digester. Twelve genera were identified as abundant bacterial communities, which included several groups of syntrophic bacteria communities, such as Candidatus Cloacimonas, Cloacimonadaceae W5, Smithella, which are (potential) syntrophic-propionate-oxidizing bacteria and Mesotoga and Thermovigra, which are (potential) syntrophic-acetate-oxidizing bacteria. Lentimicrobium, the most abundant genus in the anaerobic digester, may contribute to the decomposition of carbohydrates and the production of volatile fatty acids during the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Of the methanogens identified, Methanollinea, Candidatus Methanofastidiosum, Methanospirillum, and Methanoculleus were the dominant hydrogenotrophic methanogens, and Methanosaeta was the dominant aceticlastic methanogens. The findings may be used as a reference for developing microbial indicators to evaluate the process stability and process efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the type of sewage sludge (digested, non digested) on drying efficiency according to the polymer injection rate. The drying characteristics were shown using a near-infrared ray (NIR) and a microwave. As a result of the drying characteristics with NIR at a polymer dose ratio of 8%, the heating up period is up to 6 minutes after the start of the drying experiment. Afterwards, the constant rate drying period of the digested sludge (A, C and G sites) was 6 minute → 18 minute, showing a rapid decrease in moisture. On the other hand, non digested sludge (B, D, E, F, H, I, J and K sites) showed gradual drying characteristics compared to digested sludge until complete drying (10%). As the polymer dose ratio of 10% and 12%, the heating up period for digested sludge is up to 6 minute after the start of the experiment. Afterwards, the constant rate drying period of the digested sludge was 6 minute → 20 minute, showing a rapid decrease in moisture. On the other hand, the heating up period of non digested sludge was up to 10 minute after the start of the experiment, and the constant rate drying period was 10 minute → 22 minute, which was shorter than digested sludge. As a result of the drying characteristics with microwave at a polymer dose ratio of 8%, 10% and 12%, the constant rate drying period the digested sludge was 4 minute → 20~22 minute, showing a rapid decrease in moisture. On the other hand, non digested sludge of the constant rate drying period was 4 minute → 22~30 minute, which was longer than digested sludge.

This study was performed to test the feasibility of thermophilic (55oC) co-digestion of municipal sewage sludge and food wastes. The management variables of co-digestion were the mixed ratios of municipal sewage sludge and food waste hydraulic retention times (HRTs). During the operation of thermophilic co-digestion, the reactor pH ranged from 7.0 to 7.5 and the reactor alkalinity remained above 3,200 to 4,000 mg/L as CaCO3. The volatile fatty acids concentration increased as the HRT shortened from 20 days to 10 days and the mixture ratio increased to 1:4, but did not reach toxic levels for co-digestion of sewage sludge and food wastes. Methane productivity increased gradually as the organic loading rate increased. Maximum methane productivity reached 1.03v/v-d at an HRT of 10 days and at the mixture ratio of 1:4. The TVS removal efficiency decreased from 70.6% to 58.3% as the HRT shortened from 20 days to 10 days. TVS removal efficiency ranged from 57.0% to 77% during the entire operation. It is likely that thermophilic co-digestion of sewage sludge and food wastes is a very effective method both to environmentally treat food waste and to economically produce gas for energy.

하수처리시설의 방류수 수질기준은 계속적으로 강화되고 있으며, 이러한 기준을 충족시키기 위해 다양한 공법을 적용하려는 노력들이 증가하고 있다. 지금까지는 질소, 인 처리를 목적으로 활성슬러지 공법을 많이 적용해왔지만, 활성슬러지 공법의 경우 용존산소 및 온도 유지, 미생물의 생장에 필요한 탄소원이 부족할 경우 추가적인 메탄올 공급의 필요 등과 같은 문제점들을 가지고 있어 대안책이 필요한 상황이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 응집제 주입을 통해 유기물 뿐만 아니라 질소, 인 등을 제거하여 활성슬러지 공법을 대체할 수 있는 응집-침전 1차 처리(Chemically enhanced primary treatment, CEPT)의 최적화 과정을 진행하였으며, 추가적으로 CEPT 슬러지를 이용하여 혐기성 소화를 진행하였을 때 메탄 생성효율에는 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 확인하고자 하였다. 먼저 문헌조사를 통해 총 7개의 후보군(FeCl2, FeCl3, FeSO4, PACl, Al2(SO4)3, 키토산, glucan)을 선정하였으며, jar-test를 통해 응집제로써의 적용가능성 및 최적 주입량을 확인하였다. Jar-test의 경우 광주 제 1하수처리장으로 들어오는 하수 원수 500ml를 이용하여 진행하였으며, 급속교반(150rpm, 1분), 완속교반(40rpm, 10분), 침전(10분) 순으로 진행한 뒤 상징액을 통해 저감효과를 확인하였다. 90% 이상의 탁도 저감효과를 보인 FeCl3, PACl, Al2(SO4)3 대상으로 CEPT 슬러지를 제작하여 혐기성 소화를 진행하였다. jar-test에서는 PACl이 응집제 주입량 대비 가장 높은 탁도저감효과를 보인 반면, 혐기성 소화 공정에서는 PACl을 이용하여 제작한 CEPT 슬러지의 메탄 발생효율이 가장 낮고, FeCl3를 주입한 경우에 가장 메탄발생효율이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 PACl의 Al 성분이 미생물의 생장을 저해한 반면, FeCl3의 경우에는 Fe3+가 Fe2+로 환원되는 과정에서 유기물로부터 H+를 받아 유기물의 분해속도를 촉진시켰기 때문인 것으로 추측된다.

This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of nutrient recovery and reuse from centrate, which was produced by the centrifugal dewatering of anaerobic digested sludge. A continuous stirred reactor was operated for 3 months to recover phosphorous and nitrogen as magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals from the centrate. More than 95% of phosphate could be recovered from the centrate into the crystalline materials. The contents of TP and TN in the crystalline materials were 28.1% and 5.17%, respectively. Some heavy metals were identified, but remained under Korean standards for organic fertilizer. On the other hand, X ray diffraction analysis clearly showed that the crystalline materials was MAP crystals. However, chemical analyses suggested that some undesirable crystals like magnesium potassium phosphate or hydroxyapatite might be formed during the MAP crystallization. Nevertheless, both results strongly confirmed that the MAP crystals could be a useful and valuable nutrient fertilizer, which slowly and continuously releases essential nutrients in response to the demand from farming and planting.

우리나라는 런던협약 이행을 위하여 2012년부터 하수슬러지의 해양투기를 금지하고, 매립용 복토재, 발전소 보조연료, 바이오가스 생산 원료 등 하수슬러지를 다양한 재활용 물질로써 활용하기 위한 방법을 모색하여왔다. 이중 수열탄화(Hydrothermal carbonization)방법은 닫힌계에서 180℃~250℃온도조건과 이때 생성되는 반응기내 압력으로 운영되는 기술로, 기존 건조기술대비 에너지소비가 적은 연료화 기술이나 수열탄화 공정이후 다량으로 발생하는 탈리액의 처리가 필요하다. 이처럼 수열탄화 공정이후 고액분리된 액체생성물을 효과적으로 처리·활용하고자 본 연구는 하수슬러지 수열탄화 액체생성물의 단독 혐기소화 및 음폐수와의 혼합소화실험을 통하여 바이오가스 생산추이를 비롯한 혐기소화 특성변화를 관찰하였다. 실험은 유효용적 5L 규모의 혐기성소화조를 이용하였고, 35℃ 항온조건을 유지하기 위하여 water jacket형태로 반응기를 구성하였으며, 반응기 내부 균질화를 위하여 80rpm속도로 기계적 교반을 진행하였다. 유기물부하율(OLR)은 1g VS/L-day로 운영후 1.5g VS/L-day까지 증대시켰다. 실험 결과, OLR 1g VS/L-day 조건에서 하수슬러지 수열탄화 액체생성물의 경우 0.17L/g COD의 메탄전환율을 보였고, 음폐수혼합액의 경우 메탄전환율은 0.30L/g COD로 수열탄화 액체생성물 단독소화일 때 보다 높은 값을 보였다. OLR 1.5g VS/L-day 조건에서는 수열탄화액 액체생성물 단독처리시 OLR 1g VS/L-day 조건보다 메탄전환율이 크게 감소하는 경향을 보였고, 음폐수 혼합액은 OLR 1g VS/L-day 조건과 유사한 메탄전환율을 나타냈다.

The effect of mixed oil on the drying characteristics of sewage sludge in oil vacuum evaporation systems was studied. The experimental results showed that the drying rate with cooking oil was faster than that with refined oil due to the difference of thermal conductivity and composition of mixed oil. However, the heating value of all dried sludge was enhanced and the moisture content was below 1% due to penetration of oil into the microbial cells in sludge during the drying procedure. TGA analysis of sludge mixed with the refined oil, which had a higher volatility, showed the slope of the primary falling period was sharply declined. The result of DTA analysis also showed that the first peak was higher than the second peak and corresponded with the phenomena observed in the TGA analysis. In the DTA analysis, the temperature of the primary peak and the secondary peak of dried sludge were comparatively lower than those of raw sludge. Therefore, mixed oil could decrease the self-ignition temperature in an oil-sludge mixing system. In case of waste cooking oil, the TGA and DTA results showed similar results to those of raw sludge, but the DTA results showed that the secondary peaks of dried sludge were narrower and sharper than those of raw sludge. Overall, mixing oil could be a principal factor in controlling the drying efficiency and thermal properties of sludge-derived fuel in oil vacuum evaporation systems.

By the strengthening of sewage treated quality law and the amount of sewage sludge every year is increasing in Korea. However, it is difficult to disposal of sewage sludge due to ocean dumping restriction. As an alternative to this, drying, incineration, anaerobic digestion etc. is applied, which is uneconomical in most be processed by the consumption of energy. In particular, anaerobic digestion technology has been installed in the sewage treatment 65 plats in Korea’s STP(sewage treatment plant). It is most of the digestion efficiency requires the application of improved technology to less than 50%. As an improvement technology for most anaerobic digester, ultrasonic, electronic beam, ozone etc. solubilization method using has been mainly used. Therefore, in this study, after the wet milling particles of sludge to subject the sludge that has not been decomposed in the digested sludge circulating fluid of anaerobic digestion, was let examine the characteristic at the time of ozonation. The size of the particles before and after the wet milling, which is the measurement at each 105.26 μm and 77.18 μm, solubilization rate is increased to 23.5%. When ozonation after wet milling using sludge is determined as possible to improve the efficiency.

유기성슬러지는 바이오가스를 생산할 수 있는 우수한 원료물질로서 선진국에서는 이를 이용한 에너지 생산이 급증하고 있다. 국내의 경우 음식물쓰레기, 가축분뇨 및 하수슬러지를 대상으로 하는 바이오가스 생산 및 공급을 상용화하는 단계에 있다. 하지만 산업폐기물의 경우 에너지 가용 잠재력은 많으나 활용이 미흡하고, 산업단지에서 발생하는 유기성슬러지를 비롯한 유기성 폐자원은 일부 대규모 사업장에서 자체 에너지화 등을 통해 발생된 폐기물을 활용하고 있으나 대부분의 중･소규모 사업장은 일정 비용을 지불하고 위탁처리하고 있는 실정이다. 일부 대규모 사업장에서 생산된 적은 양의 바이오가스는 자체적으로 소각 또는 보일러용으로만 사용하고 있어 잉여 가스를 이용한 수익창출이 어려운 실정이다. 유럽의 경우 단일 유기성폐기물을 대상으로 처리하기 보다는 생분해성 폐기물을 하나로 통합 관리하는 방안을 적극적으로 추진하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 유기성폐기물 해양투기 금지에 따른 대안 마련 및 유기성폐기물의 에너지화를 통한 국가 에너지원 확보를 위해 생활계의 음폐수와 사업장의 음료제조업(맥주제조업, 유가공제조업) 폐수처리슬러지를 대상으로 바이오가스화 가능성을 평가한 결과, BMP 실험의 경우 1:9, 3:7, 5:5 비율로 병합 처리한 경우 각각 약 233, 298, 344 CH4 mL/gVS의 메탄가스가 발생하였다. BMP 실험을 통해 생산된 메탄가스의 누적생산 곡선을 Modified Gompertz model과 first order kinetic model에 적용하여 추정한 결과, 메탄생성량은 Modified Gompertz model에서는 238.5, 302.3, 353.6 mL/gVS 발생하였고 first order kinetic model에서는 242.8, 312.5, 365.5mL/gVS로 음폐수와의 혼합비율이 증가할수록 높게 나타났으며, 최대 메탄생성속도의 경우 3:7비율에서 48.2 mL/gVS·day로 최대 메탄생성 속도를 보였다. first order kinetic model의 1차 반응속도상수 k값은 1:9, 3:7, 5:5 비율에 따라 0.32, 0.22, 0.08day-1 나타났다. 1차 반응속도 상수의 경우 음폐수의 혼합비율이 낮을수록 높게 나타났다. Modified Gompertz와 first order kinetic model 모두 실험결과를 잘 모사하였으며, 실험결과와 모의결과의 적합도를 나타내는 상관계수(R2)의 경우 0.92∼0.98으로 높은 상관성을 나타내었다.

According to the elementary analysis on organic wastes, the C/N ratio, a major condition for anaerobic digestion, is 5.40 to 9.23, except for food waste leachate (FWL). Defined by Tchobanoglous’ mathematical biogas prediction model, methane gas and biogas productions increased, depending on the mixing rate of FWL. Furthermore, anaerobic digestion both wastewater sludge and food waste leachate based on the right mixing ratio, increases methane gas productions compared to digesting wastewater sludge alone. In other words, co-anaerobic digestion is more likely to realize biogasification than single anaerobic digestion. We mix food waste leachate and wastewater sludge from the dairy and beer manufacturing industry by the proportion of 1 : 9, 3 : 7 and 5 : 5. It turns out that they produced 118, 175 and 223 CH4 mL/g VS in the dairy manufacturing and 176, 233 and 263 CH4 mL/g VS in beer manufacturing of methane gas. The result suggests that as the mixing rate of food waste leachate rises, the methane gas productions increases as well. And more methane gas is made when co-digesting wastewater sludge and food waste leachate based on the mixing ratio, rather than digesting only wastewater sludge alone. Modified Gompertz and Exponential Model describe the BMP test results that show how methane gas are produced from organic waste. According to the test, higher the mixing rate of food waste leachate is, higher the methane gas productions is. The mixing ratio of food waste leachate that produces the largest volume of methane gas is 1 : 9 for the dairy industries and 3 : 7 for brewery. Modified Gompertz model and Exponential model describe the test results very well. The correlation values (R2) that show how the results of model prediction and experiment are close is 0.920 to 0.996.

유기성폐기물을 안정화시키는 동시에 바이오가스를 회수하는 혐기성소화기술은 지난 백여년 이상동안 많은 연구자들에 의하여 연구되어 온 전통기술로서 최근 지구온난화 문제가 전 세계적인 이슈로 부상하면서 새롭게 조명 받고 있다. 그러나, 혐기성소화기술은 여전히 메탄생성균의 느린 성장속도와 환경변화에 대한 민감성에 기인하여 20일 이상의 긴 체류시간을 필요로 하고 유기물 감량율과 메탄생성율이 높지 않다는 단점이 있다. 또한, 혐기성소화조는 성능을 유지시키기 위하여 중온(35℃) 또는 고온(55℃) 조건에서 운전하게 되는데, 소화조의 온도를 일정하게 유지시키기 위하여 가온하는데 많은 에너지를 필요로 한다. 그러나, 혐기성소화조를 저온에서 운전하게 될 경우 가온에 필요한 에너지를 절약할 수 있지만 생화학반응속도가 감소하여 소화성능이 크게 저하하는 결과로 이어지게 된다. 한편, 생물전기화학 혐기성소화(bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion)는 재래식 혐기성소화가 가진 단점들을 극복하기 위하여 기존의 혐기성소화조에 산화전극과 환원전극으로 이루어진 생물전기화학장치를 설치하고 전극들에 일정한 전위를 인가함으로서 유기물의 혐기성분해 반응을 촉진시키는 기술이다. 본 연구에서는 하수슬러지를 대상으로 25℃의 저온조건에서 생물전기화학 혐기성소화성능을 평가하고, 중온조건에서의 결과와 비교하였다. 또한, 저온소화 성능에 대한 철염의 영향을 조사하였다. 본 연구는 교반기가 설치된 유효용량 12L의 재래식 혐기성소화조에 산화전극과 환원전극을 설치한 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조를 이용하여 수행하였다. 이때 산화전극은 흑연직물섬유의 표면에 탄소나노튜브를 전기영동전착법으로 고정시킨 것을 사용하였으며, 환원전극은 흑연직물섬유의 표면에 탄소나노튜브와 니켈을 동시에 고정시킨 것을 사용하였다. 준비된 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조의 산화전극과 환원전극 사이에는 외부의 직류전원을 이용하여 0.3V의 전압을 인가하였다. 초기운전을 위하여 S 하수처리장 혐기성소화조로부터 채취한 혐기성슬러지를 식종하였으며, Y 하수종말처리장에서 채취한 하수슬러지를 1일 1회 정량 주입하여 수리학적 체류시간은 20일로 유지하였다. 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조를 운전하는 동안 pH, VFA, COD 및 VS 그리고 바이오가스발생량 및 메탄함량과 전류의 변화 등을 관측하였다. 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조를 35℃의 중온에서 운전한 경우 초기운전기간 이후 정상상태에 도달하였을 때 비메탄발생율과 VS 감량은 각각 0.412L CH4/L/d 및 72.5%로서 대단히 우수한 소화성능을 보였다. 그러나, 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조를 저온에서 운전하였을 때 메탄발생량과 유기물 감량율은 전차감소하였으며, 정상상태에서 비메탄발생율과 VS 감량은 각각 0.354 L CH4/L/d 및 61.3%로서 중온조건의 85% 정도 소화성능을 보였다. 그러나, 유입슬러지에 철염을 첨가하여 생물전기화학 혐기성소화조를 운전하였을 때 메탄발생량과 VS 감량율은 빠르게 회복하였으며, 비메탄발생량과 VS 감량은 각각 403L CH4/L/d 및 69.8%로서 중온성능의 98% 가량의 성능을 보였다.

국내 축산 농가의 규모가 점차 대형화 되어 감에 따라 단위 지역에서 발생하는 가축분뇨의 양도 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 2013년 말 통계자료를 기준하여 분석하면 국내에서 1년간 발생한 가축분뇨 총량은 47,235천톤에 이른다. 이 중의 80.7에 해당하는 42,129천톤이 퇴비화방법으로 처리되었고 8.5%에 이르는 3,997천톤이 액상 비료화 하는 방법에 의해 처리되어 비료자원으로서 순환되었다. 최근 들어 국내에서도 가축분뇨를 혐기소화하는 시설이 지속적으로 증가하고 있다. 이에 따라 혐기소화 과정에서 발생되는 혐기소화액이나 혐기소화 공정에서 발생되는 슬러지의 적정 처리기술의 개발 및 보급에 대한 기술수요가 발생하고 있다. 특히 최근 몇 년 사이에 가축분뇨 혐기소화 분야에서도 건식 혐기소화에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있으며 파일롯 반응조 형태를 비롯한 실험적 기술들이 개발되고 있는 상황이다. 건식 혐기소화 과정에서 발생하는 혐기소화 슬러지는 전 처리 과정 없이 곧 바로 퇴비화 처리가 가능하다는 특성이 있다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 습식 혐기소화 과정과 건식 혐기소화 과정에서 발생한 소화슬러지를 대상으로 하여 퇴비화를 수행하였을 때의 특성변화 현상을 분석하였다. 대조군으로 사용한 신선 가축 분에 비해 부숙온도가 10℃ 이상 낮게 유지되었으며 유기물 변화, 고형분 분해 등을 비롯한 여타 퇴비화 특성관련 요소의 변화정도에서 차이를 보였다. 그러나 혐기소화 잔재물에 대한 퇴비화 방식에 따라 퇴비화 효과가 다르게 나타나는 관계로, 본 연구를 통하여 혐기소화 시설에서 발생하는 소화잔재물에 대한 적정 퇴비화 조건을 구명하고자 하였다.

본 연구는 하수슬러지의 플록상태를 파악할 수 있는 응집제 자동투입장치를 탈수기 전단에 장착하여 하수슬러지(소화슬러지, 농축슬러지) 플록상태에 따른 고분자 응집제 주입량을 다르게 함으로써 탈수케이크의 함수율 저감 및 응집제 사용량 절감, 탈수여액의 수질개선 등을 평가하는데 그 목적이 있다. 응집제 자동투입장치를 B시 N하수처리장 소화슬러지 및 S하수처리장 농축슬러지에 적용한 결과 고속회전 및 응집제 분사를 통한 균일한 플록이 형성됨에 따라 탈수케이크 함수율 및 응집제 주입율 저감효과를 나타내었다. 하수슬러지의 탈수실험 결과 소화슬러지에 대한 고분자 응집제의 적정주입율은 12%로 나타났으며, 이때의 비저항계수(SRF)는 1.11×1011 m/kg으로 나타났다. 또한, 농축슬러지에 대한 고분자 응집제의 적정주입율은 16%로 나타났으며, 이때의 비저항계수(SRF)는 1.68×1011 m/kg으로 나타났다. 또한 응집제 자동투입장치의 회전속도와 유입 하수슬러지량 대비 고분자 응집제 주입율과의 상관관계를 평가한 결과 회전속도를 900~1,200 rpm의 범위 내에서 운전시 플록형성이 양호하게 나타났다. 기존 시스템 대비 응집제 자동투입장치의 경제성 평가 결과 N하수처리장 및 S하수처리장의 경우 각각 연간 263,542,490원 및 42,174,700원으로 산출되었으며, 시설투자비 회수기간은 각각 2.3년 및 7.1년으로 나타났다. 따라서, 하수처리장 탈수기 전단에 응집제 자동투입장치를 적용함으로써 함수율 및 약품주입량 저감 뿐만 아니라 중앙제어실을 통한 실시간 모니터링이 가능하므로 인력감축 유도 및 공정자동화에도 기여할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

In this study the effects of co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste leachate on the anaerobic digestion efficiencyfrom sewage treatment facilities in S. Korea were investigated. For this study 15 facilities were selected including 9facilities treating sewage sludge only (S-Only) and 6 facilities treating sewage sludge and food waste leachate (S-MIX).The average volatile solid (VS) removal rate of S-Only was 30.7% and that of S-MIX was 45.2%. The COD removalrate of S-MIX (61.3%) was higher than that of S-Only (48.6%). It has been observed that the anaerobic digestion efficiencyof S-MIX was superior to that of S-Only because S-MIX contained more sufficient nutrient with higher VS contents andtotal solid (TS) contents emerging from food waste leachate. Therefore food waste leachate addition in sewage sludgeanaerobic digestion would be the preferred option to treat only sewage sludge.