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Effect of Calcium Ions on Dewaterability of Enzymatic-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion Sludge

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Abstract

Waste-activated sludge (WAS) solubilized remarkably after enzymatic-enhanced anaerobic digestion, but its dewaterability was deteriorated. In this study, a novel method was performed to improve the dewaterability of enzymatic-enhanced anaerobic digestion sludge by adding CaCl2 (0.01~1.00 g/g total sludge). The capillary suction time (CST), moisture content, and filtrate turbidity were employed to characterize the dewaterability of WAS, and the possible mechanisms involved were clarified. The results showed the dewaterability did not worsen when CaCl2 was added before sludge digestion, and the CST, moisture content, and filtrate turbidity were notably reduced with the increase of CaCl2 dosage. It also shown that calcium ions played an important role in the bioflocculation of digested sludge by neutralizing negative charges on the surface of sludge. In addition, soluble protein initially lowered a little and then observably improved with the addition of CaCl2, while soluble carbohydrate was reduced sharply first and then bounced back afterwards. The interactions between calcium ions and the biopolymer further enhanced the dewatering of sludge through bridging of colloidal particles together.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by a project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51308076), the Science and Technology Project of Hunan Province (No. 2014FJ3063), and the Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Electric-Technology of Hunan Province (No. 2012ZNDL007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, 410003, People’s Republic of China

    Kun Luo, Shi-ying Zhang, Ya Pang, Xue Li & Xing-sheng Liao

  2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China

    Qi Yang & Xiao-ming Li

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  1. Kun Luo
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  2. Qi Yang
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  3. Xiao-ming Li
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  4. Shi-ying Zhang
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  7. Xing-sheng Liao
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Correspondence to Kun Luo or Shi-ying Zhang.

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Luo, K., Yang, Q., Li, Xm. et al. Effect of Calcium Ions on Dewaterability of Enzymatic-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion Sludge. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 2346–2357 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1722-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1722-z

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