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<p>Waste activated sludge (WAS) represents a significant operational and environmental challenge for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to its low biodegradability, attributed to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that hinder enzymatic hydrolysis. Electrochemical (EC) pretreatment has shown promise in improving organic matter solubilization. However, conventional systems often face limitations related to high energy demand, mineralization of organic matter and electrode degradation. This study evaluates EC pretreatment with two dimensionally stable anodes, Ti/RuO<sub>2</sub> and Ti/RuO<sub>2</sub>–ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, as scalable alternatives for improving WAS biodegradability and energy recovery. The EC with both electrodes using WAS as the sole electrolyte, with an applied current of 10&#xa0;mA/cm<sup>2</sup> for 30&#xa0;min, achieved significantly enhanced solubilization with minimal mineralization. This effectively enhances the anaerobic biodegradability of WAS and increases methane recovery while maintaining low energy consumption and avoiding chemical additives. Methane yields increased to 168 and 342 N-L<sub>CH4</sub>/kg<sub>VS</sub> for WAS pretreated with Ti/RuO<sub>2</sub> and Ti/RuO<sub>2</sub>–ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, respectively, compared to 85 N-L<sub>CH4</sub>/kg<sub>VS</sub> for untreated sludge. Energy analysis revealed a net gain of 1.64&#xa0;kW-h/kg<sub>VS</sub>, outperforming other EC systems reported in the literature. In this sense, the implementation of this process could be integrated at an industrial scale in WWTPs as a cost-effective strategy for sludge valorization and resource recovery, in line with circular economy principles.</p>

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Electrochemical pretreatment to improve the biodegradability and valorization of waste activated sludge from aerobic wastewater treatment plants

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月30日

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  • Selene González-Ledesma,
  • Ma. Concepción Romero-Serrano,
  • Víctor Sánchez-Vázquez,
  • Ignacio González,
  • Ulises Durán-Hinojosa

摘要

Waste activated sludge (WAS) represents a significant operational and environmental challenge for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to its low biodegradability, attributed to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that hinder enzymatic hydrolysis. Electrochemical (EC) pretreatment has shown promise in improving organic matter solubilization. However, conventional systems often face limitations related to high energy demand, mineralization of organic matter and electrode degradation. This study evaluates EC pretreatment with two dimensionally stable anodes, Ti/RuO2 and Ti/RuO2–ZrO2–Sb2O5, as scalable alternatives for improving WAS biodegradability and energy recovery. The EC with both electrodes using WAS as the sole electrolyte, with an applied current of 10 mA/cm2 for 30 min, achieved significantly enhanced solubilization with minimal mineralization. This effectively enhances the anaerobic biodegradability of WAS and increases methane recovery while maintaining low energy consumption and avoiding chemical additives. Methane yields increased to 168 and 342 N-LCH4/kgVS for WAS pretreated with Ti/RuO2 and Ti/RuO2–ZrO2–Sb2O5, respectively, compared to 85 N-LCH4/kgVS for untreated sludge. Energy analysis revealed a net gain of 1.64 kW-h/kgVS, outperforming other EC systems reported in the literature. In this sense, the implementation of this process could be integrated at an industrial scale in WWTPs as a cost-effective strategy for sludge valorization and resource recovery, in line with circular economy principles.