Extracellular polymer substances and physicochemical properties of flocs in steady and unsteady-state activated sludge systems

Determination of some rheological parameters for the characterization of activated sludge

The rheological characterization of activated sludge originating from different aeration tanks and from a lab-scale plant was carried out using rotation tests. Two rheological parameters were used: limit viscosity (mu(infinity)) and reduced hysteresis area (rHa). Mu(infinity) was strongly influenced by the total suspended solids (TSS) content of sludge and an exponential relation was found between TSS and the rheological parameter mu(infinity). Significant differences in sludge viscosity were found for sludge of different origins, but all of 10 g/l TSS content, indicating ability of viscosity to show different sludge qualities. Marked changes in activated sludge microorganisms communities were shown to have an influence on rheological parameters. During aerobic digestion of sludge, variations in mu(infinity) were noticed, indicating change of sludge quality. An over-growth of filamentous bacteria species was shown to induce a particular rheological behavior which could be characterized by rHa. This parameter was proposed as an index of filamentous bacteria proliferation in activated sludge aeration tanks.

Effect of pH and ionic environment changes on interparticle interactions affecting activated sludge flocs: a rheological approach

The rheological behaviour of activated sludge was investigated through the determination of sludge suspension equilibrium viscosity (micro(eq)) while varying the pH, sodium chloride and calcium chloride concentrations over a wide range. Micro(eq) was used to investigate the influence of environmental changes on the rheological behaviour of activated sludges, on the basis that it is representative of interparticle interactions affecting sludge flocs. Micro(eq) was shown to increase with increasing pH and to decrease with cation addition. The surface charge presented by sludge flocs was shown to be a factor that greatly affects micro(eq), as demonstrated by the linear correlation with zeta-potential (zeta-potential). A decrease in electrostatic charge was supposed to decrease repulsive effect between particles that facilitate flow and to promote a compaction of flocs that lower viscosity. Cation addition was shown to generate a viscosity decrease, in the same proportion, independent of the valency of the cation. The decrease in the particles double layer thickness coupled to the decrease in surface charge were supposed to induce a decrease in interparticle interactions which leads to lower viscosity values.