Testing and Characterization of Sludge From Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The paper presents the procedure of examination and characterization of sludge from wastewatertreatment. This procedure includes: sampling, identification with categorization of waste, characterization dependingon the degree of danger, characterization of the subject waste as hazardous waste and determination of theconcentration of hazardous substances, determination of physico-chemical and toxicological characteristics andeffects on human health, determination of the impact on the environment and others procedures in accordance withthe applied methodology and preparation of reports on waste testing. The testing and characterization process beginswith sampling and ends with reporting. The goal of wastewater treatment is to obtain clean water, while sludge isproduced as a by-product. Clean water returns to nature, and sludge goes to treatment and final disposal. Thetreatment can be: sanitary disposal, recycling using composting technology with the aim of obtaining compost orenergy utilization as solid fuel or using anaerobic digestion with the aim of obtaining biogas.