Evaluation of Physical and Chemical Properties of Poultry Sludge and its Suitability for Reuse in Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Applications

Disposal of poultry sludge is one of the great challenges facing cities because of very strict requirements for landfilling and the scarcity of space for landfills. The present study was therefore aimed at evaluating the physical and chemical properties of poultry sludge and its suitability for reuse in agricultural and non-agricultural applications. Three samples were collected from sludge at the wastewater treatment plant of Al-Thuraya slaughterhouse in Al-Mafraq District, Jordan. The physical and biochemical properties of these samples were analyzed. Also, elemental composition and heat value were determined. The results indicated that poultry sludge had a slightly alkaline pH and a total moisture content of 20%, as well as an average total solid of 80%. The dry solid sludge had a volatile solid content of 94.9% and 5.1% of ash. Also, dry sludge had a high protein content (62 %) followed by carbohydrate (20%) and fiber (17%), with fat being around 1%. The major elements in the sludge were carbon (65.5%) followed by nitrogen (16%), phosphorous (5 %) and sulfur (2%). Heavy metal concentrations in dry sludge ranged from 0.01 to 2 mg/kg. These heavy metal concentrations were well below the safe limits recommended by legislators for sludge used as a fertilizer. The findings from this study revealed that dry poultry sludge offers a wide range of potential uses as fertilizer, animal feed and a source of energy, and it should be considered as a potentially valuable and sustainable resource rather than a waste product.