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.

This study was carried out to obtain the optimal operating parameter on organic matters and nutrient removal of mixed wastewater which was composed of sewage and stable wastewater using SBR. A laboratory scale SBR was operated with An/Ae(Anaerobic/ Aerobic) ratio of 3/3, 2/4 and 4/2(3.5/2.5) at organic loading rate of 0.14 to 0.27 ㎏BOD/㎥/d. TCOD/SCOD ratio of mixed wastewater was 3, so the important operating factor depended upon the resolving the particulate parts of wastewater. Conclusions of this study were as follows: 1) For mixed wastewater, BOD and COD removal efficiencies were 93-96% and 85-89%, respectively. It was not related to each organic loading rate, whereas depended on An/Ae ratio. During Anaerobic period, the amount of SCOD consumption was very little, because ICOD in influent was converted to SCOD by hydrolysis of insoluble matter. 2) T-N removal efficiencies of mixed wastewater were 55-62% for Exp. 1, 66-76% for Exp. 2, and 67-81% for Exp. 3, respectively. It was found that nitrification rate was increased according to organic concentration in influent increased. Therefore, the nitrification rate seemed to be achieved by heterotrophs. During anoxic period, denitrification rate depended on SCOD concentration in aerobic period and thus, was not resulted by endogenous denitrification. However, the amount of denitrification during anaerobic period were 3.5-14.1㎎/cycle, and that of BOD consumed were 10-40㎎/cycle. 3) For P removal of mixed wastewater, EBPR appeared only Mode 3(3*). It was found that the time in which ICOD was converted to VFA should be sufficient. For mode 3 in each Exp., P removal efficiencies were 74, 87, and 81%, respectively. But for 45-48 of COD/TP ratio in influent, P concentration in effluent was over 1 ㎎/L. It was caused to a large amount of ICOD in influent. However, as P concentration in influent was increased, the amounts of P release and uptake were increased linearly.