The impact of excess sludge disintegration on the changes of total organic carbon value

Abstract

The efficiency of conversion of organic substances contained in the excess sludge to the dissolved form is considered as an important factor limiting the process of anaerobic stabilization. Direct effect, occurring in the disintegrated sludge, lysis process is to increase the value of the total organic carbon (TOC), correlates with the increase of the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The total organic carbon content is indicative of the supernatant liquid of total organic carbon in dissolved form (DOC) and suspended (SOC). Together with occurring, as a result of biochemical processes, increase the degree of decomposition of organic substances contained in the sludge decreases the value of the ratio of COD to TOC. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the process of excess sludge disintegration on the changes of the total organic carbon values. The process of chemical disintegration of excess sludge was treated using the selected acidic ie HCl, alkaline ie KOH and oxidizing reagents ie H2O2. The modification was carried out at ambient temperature for 6 and 24 h. During sludge disintegration it was noticed the increase of total organic carbon values, disintegration degree as well as the concentration of volatile fatty acids that confirmed the susceptibility of prepared sludge to biodegradation. The highest TOC value of 2150 mg C/dm obtained in case of chemical disintegration of potassium hydroxide at a dose of 12.0 g/dm and preparation time 24 h. For given conditions of preparing a concentration of VFAs was 523 mg CH3COOH/dm .