A Novel Biological Method for Sludge Volume Reduction by Aquatic Worms

Abstract

Abstract-The application of biological methods of sludge reduction and treatment, compared with mechanical and chemical methods, due to the lack of secondary pollutions has attracted more attention in recent years. The present research studies the reduction amount of suspended solids in the waste of the activated sludge by an aquatic worm (Lumbriculus variegatus) in wastewater treatment plant and total amount of suspended solids in the worm reactor with different dissolved oxygen concentration. According to the results, the average reduction of suspended solids in the sludge of different oxygen contents doesn't make difference statistically, and its obtained maximum reduction equals to 33%. The average reduction amount of 16% and 12% which have been under observation in this parameter respectively show a noticeable change with regard to the reactors both in phase one and two. Therefore, the performance of the species of the aquatic worm in the reduction of sludge TSS is confirmed.