Composting of Sewage Sludge of Moscow Waste Water Treatment Plants Using Recycling Filler

Abstract

This work demonstrates a possibility of composting of municipal waste waters sludge (WWS) digested during 5-7 days, of the Kuryanovo waste water treatment plants (the city of Moscow) without the use of traditional organic additives – sawdust, peat, thatch. As a recycling filler (repeatedly used), enhancing the porosity of the composted mixture, ribbed polyethylene spheres (∅=8 cm) and wood chips (having dimension of 5-10 cm) were used. Composting was performed efficiently in both cases, however, the use of wood ships had technological and economical advantages. The process of composting was carried out during 2-4 weeks and was composed of classical phases of active heating (a rate of 0.2-0.3oC/h was obtained), maintaining of maximum temperature during 1-2 days, and cooling down to the ambient temperature. During the course of composting, a product was obtained, having attractive organoleptic properties, suitable for application in municipal laying-out of greenery.

Wastewater Sludge Management in the Russian Federation: the Current Status and Perspectives

“…Although there are some examples of aerobic stabilisation in bigger WWTPs, but this usually results in only partial stabilisation of sludge that thus needs further processing. Such a post-treatment can be performed by composting of the digested sludge: the corresponding pilot trials are in progress, for example, at the Moscodokanal using plastic recyclable fillers with the aim of production of high quality fertiliser (Danilovich et al, 2007). Composting of sewage sludge is a multifunctional process that assures: sludge stabilisation, destruction of pathogens, reduction of mass and water content.…”