A review on the recent advances in electrochemical treatment technologies for sludge dewatering and alternative uses
Jannatul Rumky, Anjan Deb, Moo Joon Shim, Ekaterina Laakso, Eveliina Repo
Abstract
Municipal wastewater treatment plants generate enormous quantities of sludge as a byproduct, which not only contains a significant amount of water and harmful pathogens but also serves as a repository for a variety of essential materials and nutrients. The recovery of water and other valuable substances is highly dependent on the employed treatment methods. In recent years, electrochemical processes have attracted a great deal of interest as an efficient technique for sludge dewatering and resource recovery. By separating free and bound water from the sludge matrix, electro-dewatering can substantially reduce the volume of sludge, making it a more cost effective and sustainable method of sludge management. Furthermore, the resulting sludge cake is more manageable and transportable, making it a viable option for further disposal or resource recovery. By considering the beneficial aspects of sludge electro-dewatering, this paper aims to critically review the mechanism underlying electrochemical methods of sludge dewatering as well as modified development strategies for scal-up potentials.