The performance of EF (electroflotation) on the thickening of activated sludge were investigated using laboratory scale batch flotation reactor. In this paper, the effects of parameters such as electrode material, NaCl dosage, initial sludge concentration and electrode distance were examined. The results showed that the performance for sludge thickening of the five electrodes lay in: Pt/Ti > Ru/Ti > Ir/Ti > Ti mesh > Ti plate. The more NaCl dosage was high, the more sludge was thickened and the shorter thickening time was obtained. However, considering the final thickening time and sludge concentration, optimum NaCl dosage was 0.5 g/L. Thickening time and sludge concentration was not affected by electrode distance. In DAF (dissolved air flotation) system, optimum recycle ratio was 40% and thickening performance was lower than that of the EF.

The objectives of this study have been carried out to investigate the solubilization of municipal sewage sludge by single and dual frequency ultrasonic pretreatment, and the methane production characteristics of pretreated sewage sludge by specific methanogenic activity test for sewage sludge reduction. The waste activated sludge was collected from thickened tank of Suyoung sewage treatment plant in Busan city, and its concentration was adjusted to 1.0% total solids. Ultrasonic frequency was varied 15, 20, 15+20 kHz, and acoustic density was used a maximum 176W/L. The dual frequency ultrasonic pretreatment was found to be more effective than single frequency ultrasonic in the solubilization rate and methane production. The SCODCr/TCODCr rate were 15.2%, 13.9%, 17.0% with single frequency of 15 kHz, 20 kHz, dual frequency of 15+20 kHz, respectively. The application of dual frequency ultrasound for sewage sludge pretreatment can be interest for sewage treatment plants having problems in sludge treatment and disposal.

This study has been conducted to investigate biodegradation characteristics and optimum mixing ratio for co-digestion with thermophilic acid-fermented food waste and sewage sludge using batch anaerobic digester. As the basis operating conditions for anaerobic digestion, the reaction temperature was controlled 35±1℃ and stirrer was set 70rpm. Thermophilic acid-fermented food waste and sewage sludge were mixed at the ratio of 10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0:10 and 5;5(food waste : sewage sludge) as the influent substrates. In results of co-digestion according to mixing ratio of thermophilic fermented food wastes and sewage sludge in batch mesophilic anaerobic digestion reactor, 385mL CH4/g VSadded of methane production rate at 1:1 mixing ratio was more than that of any other mixing ratios. Compared with 293mL CH4/g VSadded of methane production rate at 1:1 mixing ratio of food wastes and sewage sludge, pretreatment of food wastes by thermophilic acid fermentation was more effective in co-digestion with sewage sludge.