ABSTRACT
The sludge treatment process intended to reduce the content of biodegradable organic material, the concentration of pathogens and moisture in order to obtain a solid and stable material, which is not hazardous to the environment health and useful for agricultural purposes. This study aims to evaluate the effects of bed drying on physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of domestic sewage sludge samples taken from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Sludge samples were collected at 4.8 m from the bottom (sludge A) and 3.1 m (sludge B) of an UASB reactor, totaling 3 collections, with an interval of 1 month. Each collected sample was subjected to the sludge drying process in cells of drying beds (1.00 x 2.00 x 0.50 m). In each cell, 6 samples were collected at 0, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. The following parameters were evaluated: total solids, volatile solids, temperature, pH, moisture content, total organic carbon, N, P, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, lipids, total and fecal coliforms, Salmonella and viable helminth eggs. No physical-chemical, microbiological and parasitological differences between sludge A and sludge B were detected after the period of bed drying. The final concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals as well as the C/N ratio were considered adequate for agricultural purposes. However, the low inactivation of microorganisms indicated the inefficiency of drying beds regarding the removal of pathogen microorganisms. The generated biosolids in both treatments are classified as type B (CONAMA 375/06).
Keywords:
sewage sludge; UASB; pathogenic microorganisms; bed drying; agricultural use
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