Aerobic digestion of sludge in the clarification zone of KAMAK aerated lagoon

Aerated lagoons (ALs) are popular wastewater treatment systems in Quebec for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. In 2014, Bionest Technologies introduced the KAMAK™ system, which uses fixed bacterial support technology to boost biofilm growth in ALs. Implemented at the Grandes-Piles AL, the KAMAK™ system enhances nitrification, increases biomass concentration, and reduces effluent total suspended solids (TSS). However, over time, sediment accumulation in clarification zones undergoes anaerobic digestion (AD), especially in warm months. AD of sludge can release ammonia and phosphate, resuspend sludge, increase effluent TSS, reduce nitrification efficiency, and emit odors and greenhouse gases like methane. To address these issues and improve sludge management, it is proposed to introduce aeration in clarification zones for the aerobic digestion of sludge. However, aeration intensity must be controlled to avoid disrupting the settling process and causing sludge resuspension. The study aims to assess the efficacy of resuspending and aerobically hydrolyzing accumulated sludge in the KAMAK™ system’s clarification zones. This involves analyzing sludge characteristics, such as total solids (TS), the ratio of total volatile solids (TVS) to TS, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO), to determine the oxygen demand and digestibility of different sludge layers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yves Comeau;Peter Vanrolleghem;Dominique Claveau-Mallet

Student:

Partner:

Bionest

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Biotechnology; Environmental Science and Technology; Water

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program: