Aerobic thermophilic hygienisation - A supplement to anaerobic mesophilic waste sludge digestion

The concept of incorporating an aerobic thermophilic treatment step, as a means of effective hygienization, or the treatment of waste sewage sludge is discussed. The complexity of waste sludge as a feedstock for treatment processes is examined and a discussion of the process stoichiometry for the aerobic biodegradation of microbial solids, i. e. , waste secondary sludge, is provided. Technical-scale processes for aerobic thermophilic sludge treatment are discussed. Test results obtained during the stable operation of a UTB Aerotherm system operating with a conventional anaerobic mesophilic digestion system are reported.