The enzymatic degradation of excess activated sludge: A tale of worms

Abstract

The activated sludge process is the most used process to remove organic carbon, nutrients and other pollutants from sewage and also from many industrial waste waters. The organic fraction of waste water is aerobically respired and partly converted into biomass. The surplus biomass is a by-product of this process and is called excess activated sludge. The main constituents of activated sludge are biomass, organic matter and water. In general, this sludge stream is partly converted in biogas upon anaerobic digestion and partly processed e.g. dewatered and incinerated. One of the drawbacks of the activated sludge technology, is the cost for processing and disposal of the large amounts of excess sludge.Water ManagementCivil Engineering and Geoscience