Sludge Production Characteristics of SedimentationㆍDissolved Air Flotation (SeDAF) Process for Enhanced Phosphorus Removal

Abstract

Objectives : In order to prevent eutrophication and algal blooms, Ministry of Environment in Korea reinforced the effluent standards of wastewater treatment facilities. As a result, many advanced wastewater treatment processes have been implemented nationwide. Current conventional treatment systems have usually been facing high operational costs and large sludge production problems. Therefore, it is essential to develop more economic and efficient process to cope with these issues.Methods : The sedimentation and dissolved air flotation (SeDAF) process has been developed, that integrates sedimentation and dissolved air flotation. Several simulation experiments were carried out to verify and optimize the operation conditions of the SeDAF process. Removal efficiencies of each water quality item and sludge mass balance were analyzed intensively in the SeDAF process using the modified jar-test.Results and Discussion : Removal efficiencies of the SeDAF process were higher and more stable than those of sedimentation process. Several ‘sludge production / coagulant dosage’ ratios were analyzed and the representative value of 4 mg･L-1 as SS / mg･L-1 as Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was obtained in the SeDAF process. Fractions of suspended solids (SS) and total phosphorus (T-P) in sludge were measured; the ratios of flotation sludge to sedimentation sludge and fractions of flotation sludge in total sludge had their typical convergence ranges for the conditions of optimal coagulant dosage.Conclusions : The ratios or fractions of SS and T-P in sludge could be applied as the evaluation indicators of the SeDAF process. The reduction of coagulant dosage could be corresponded directly to the reduction of sludge production.