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Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects
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Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 15522

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Carnevale Miino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
Interests: sustainable and circular wastewater treatment plants; carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants; resources reuse/recovery; emerging contaminants in water and sludge; microplastics; sludge minimization; advanced oxidation processes; blue-green infrastructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: drinking water; chemical-physical processes; sewage sludge minimization; thermophilic treatments; WWTP optimization; membrane processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is estimated that the rapid growth of the world population will lead a world population of 8.5 billion by 2030, consequently increasing the treatment of wastewater and the production of sewage sludge. The question concerning the management of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants is also becoming increasingly important due to the evolution of legislation that requires greater attention to be paid to the minimization of the production and the recovery of the resources contained therein.

This Special Issue aims to collect up-to-date papers that explore the latest advances and prospects about sewage sludge. Both research papers and review articles are welcome. Short communications of preliminary but significant results and case studies will also be considered. Authors are invited to submit original research and review articles focusing on this area.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

chemical-physical and microbiological characterization; treatments and valorization; advanced processes; minimization; options for reuse; technical and application solutions; contaminants of emerging concern; modelling.

Dr. Marco Carnevale Miino
Prof. Dr. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sewage sludge
  • biosolids
  • water treatment
  • reuse
  • minimization
  • technical solutions
  • advanced processes

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 175 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects
by Marco Carnevale Miino and Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4279; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074279 - 28 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1087
Abstract
To solve problems about sewage sludge production, management and minimization, research plays an essential role [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

11 pages, 1827 KiB  
Article
Potentiality of Rod-Type Chitosan Adsorbent Derived from Sewage Sludge
by Ji Hae Seo, Namgyu Kim, Munsik Park and Donghee Park
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042055 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1243
Abstract
The potential use of wastewater sludge as a biosorbent for the removal of various metals and metalloids from aqueous solutions was investigated. The sludge was immobilized in a rod shape with chitosan to improve sorption capacity and solid–liquid separation ability. An optimal condition [...] Read more.
The potential use of wastewater sludge as a biosorbent for the removal of various metals and metalloids from aqueous solutions was investigated. The sludge was immobilized in a rod shape with chitosan to improve sorption capacity and solid–liquid separation ability. An optimal condition for the production of rod-shaped chitosan-immobilized sludge (RCS) was determined by considering the biosorbent production potential and As(V) removal efficiency. The optimal sludge and chitosan contents and RCS thickness were 6.0%, 4.0%, and 0.2–0.3 mm, respectively. The anion removal performance of RCS was investigated for As(V), Cr(VI), and Mn(VII), and the cation removal performance was investigated for Cd(II). Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models adequately explained the kinetic data for the RCS, while the Langmuir and Freundlich models explained the equilibrium data for the RCS. These results showed that RCS has a higher adsorption capacity for anions than for cations. The results also indicated that electrostatic attraction or ion exchange is the main mechanism for metal/metalloid removal by RCS, except for the case of Mn(VII) where an adsorption-coupled reduction mechanism may be suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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18 pages, 2351 KiB  
Article
Sewage Sludge Quality and Management for Circular Economy Opportunities in Lombardy
by Marta Domini, Giorgio Bertanza, Reza Vahidzadeh and Roberta Pedrazzani
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10391; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010391 - 15 Oct 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3976
Abstract
From the perspective of a circular economy that prioritizes resource reuse and recovery, sewage sludge could be a source of nutrients for agricultural soils or a source of energy, depending on its characteristics. Lombardy is the region with the highest quantity of sludge [...] Read more.
From the perspective of a circular economy that prioritizes resource reuse and recovery, sewage sludge could be a source of nutrients for agricultural soils or a source of energy, depending on its characteristics. Lombardy is the region with the highest quantity of sludge production and management in Italy. A methodology was developed to: extract and analyze quantitative data on sewage sludge (EWC 190805) production and management (2017–2018); collect and analyze qualitative data from publicly available documents in tender processes for sewage sludge management (2014–2020). Sludge from Lombardy’s wastewater treatment facilities displayed average qualities that were useful for recovery in agriculture after additional stabilization treatments. Sludge showed generally low heating values and elevated water content and should require additional treatments to be used in mono-combustion. The study discovered that there is still work to be done in sludge recovery in agriculture in Lombardy, taking biosolid quality into account. Sludge, on the other hand, can be converted into energy. The methodology for collecting and analyzing site-specific data presented here can be applied to other areas. The findings can assist and guide decision-makers in developing future regional sewage sludge management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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14 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of a Full-Scale Thermophilic Biological System and Investigation of Nitrate and Ammonia Fates
by Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Roberta Pedrazzani, Stefano Bellazzi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Marco Baldi, Alessandro Abbà and Giorgio Bertanza
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 6952; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12146952 - 8 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Thermophilic biological processes proved to be effective in aqueous waste (AW) and high-strength wastewater treatment. In this work, the monitoring of a full-scale aerobic thermophilic biological plant treating various high-strength AW in continuous mode is reported. This paper aims to: (i) provide models [...] Read more.
Thermophilic biological processes proved to be effective in aqueous waste (AW) and high-strength wastewater treatment. In this work, the monitoring of a full-scale aerobic thermophilic biological plant treating various high-strength AW in continuous mode is reported. This paper aims to: (i) provide models to help the AW utility manager in predicting the load of fed pollutants and performances, and (ii) fully investigate nitrogen transformations in biological reactor. Based on the results, the thermophilic sludge in the studied plant was able to degrade Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and remove nitrate nitrogen with very high efficiency (79.3% and 97.1, respectively). The monitoring was conducted following a statistical approach and searched for the possible correlations between the input parameters and the efficiency of removal of the plant. Moreover, a multivariate linear regression was carried out highlighting that the yield value of the removal of COD and nitrogen forms, apart from ammonia, was well explained (R2 = 0.9) by the linear regression against the other monitored parameters. As far as nitrification is concerned, there was, on the one hand, an increase in ammonium ions due to the hydrolysis of the organic substance that occurs in the reactor, and on the other hand, a stripping of the same ammoniacal nitrogen in the form of NH3. While nitrates were effectively removed, according to fluorescent in situ hybridization tests, sludge proved to be formed by minute flocs, where bacteria responsible for the oxidation of ammonium and nitrite seem to be unable to grow. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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12 pages, 809 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Influence of Diverse Non-Volatile Media on Rheological Properties of Thermophilic Biological Sludge and Evaluation of Its Thixotropic Behaviour
by Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Sara Todeschini, Stefano Bellazzi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Silvia Calatroni, Marco Baldi and Sauro Manenti
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5198; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105198 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
In this study, the rheological properties of thermophilic biological sludge (TBS) have been investigated evaluating the influence of non-volatile solids (NVS). Calcium carbonate, sand, and sodium bentonite were separately added to the sludge to evaluate the effect of concentration and type of NVS. [...] Read more.
In this study, the rheological properties of thermophilic biological sludge (TBS) have been investigated evaluating the influence of non-volatile solids (NVS). Calcium carbonate, sand, and sodium bentonite were separately added to the sludge to evaluate the effect of concentration and type of NVS. Results show that TBS consistency coefficient significantly enhanced increasing sodium bentonite concentration. On the contrary, calcium carbonate and sand showed relatively small influence on the rheological properties of TBS. Thixotropic behaviour of TBS has also been investigated and is more pronounced at higher shear rate (1000 s−1). Double exponential fitting model was the best choice to represent thixotropic behaviour in case of low (100 s−1) and high shear rate (1000 s−1), while a single-exponential model represents the best option in case of medium shear rate (400 s−1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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17 pages, 2095 KiB  
Article
A Neural Network Model for Decision-Making with Application in Sewage Sludge Management
by Francesco Facchini, Luigi Ranieri and Micaela Vitti
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5434; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125434 - 11 Jun 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2433
Abstract
Wastewater treatment (WWT) is a foremost challenge for maintaining the health of ecosystems and human beings; the waste products of the water-treatment process can be a problem or an opportunity. The sewage sludge (SS) produced during sewage treatment can be considered a waste [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment (WWT) is a foremost challenge for maintaining the health of ecosystems and human beings; the waste products of the water-treatment process can be a problem or an opportunity. The sewage sludge (SS) produced during sewage treatment can be considered a waste to be disposed of in a landfill or as a source for obtaining raw material to be used as a fertilizer, building material, or alternative fuel source suitable for co-incineration in a high-temperature furnace. To this concern, this study’s purpose consisted of developing a decision model, supported by an Artificial Neural Network (ANN model), allowing us to identify the most effective sludge management strategy in economic terms. Consistent with the aim of the work, the suitable SS treatment was identified, selecting for each phase of the SS treatment, an alternative available on the market ensuring energy and/or matter recovery, in line with the circular water value chain. Results show that the ANN model identifies the suitable SS treatments on multiple factors, thus supporting the decision-making and identifying the solution as per user requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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12 pages, 900 KiB  
Article
Retention of the Antibiotic Cefuroxime onto Agricultural and Forest Soils
by Raquel Cela-Dablanca, Carolina Nebot, Lucia Rodríguez López, David Ferández-Calviño, Manuel Arias-Estévez, Avelino Núñez-Delgado, Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez and María J. Fernández-Sanjurjo
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4663; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104663 - 19 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Antibiotics in wastewater, sewage sludge, manures, and slurries constitute a risk for the environment when spread on soils. This work studies the adsorption and desorption of the antibiotic cefuroxime (CFX) in 23 agricultural and forest soils, using batch-type experiments. Our results show that [...] Read more.
Antibiotics in wastewater, sewage sludge, manures, and slurries constitute a risk for the environment when spread on soils. This work studies the adsorption and desorption of the antibiotic cefuroxime (CFX) in 23 agricultural and forest soils, using batch-type experiments. Our results show that the adsorption values were between 40.75 and 99.57% in the agricultural soils, while the range was lower (from 74.57 to 93.46%) in forest soils. Among the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Linear models, the Freundlich equation shows the best fit for the adsorption results. In addition, agricultural soils with higher pH are the ones that present the highest adsorption. Further confirmation of the influence of pH on adsorption is given by the fact that Freundlich’s KF parameter and the Linear model Kd parameter shows a positive correlation with pH and with the exchangeable Ca and Mg values, which are known to affect the charges of the soil colloids and the formation of cationic bridges between adsorbents and adsorbate. In addition, Freundlich’s n parameter shows a positive and significant correlation with the organic matter content, related to the high adsorption taking place on forest soils despite their pH < 5. Regarding desorption, in most cases, it is lower than 1%, which indicates that CFX is adsorbed in a rather irreversible way onto these soils. Overall, these results can be considered relevant regarding their potential impact on environmental quality and public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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