New Developments in Processing of Sludges and Slurries PDF

PREFACE

This book contains the proceedings of a ‘round-table’ meeting held at Bilthoven, The Netherlands, in April 1985 under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities’ Concerted Action (COST 681) on ‘the treatment and use of organic sludges and liquid agricultural wastes’. Working Party No. 1 of the Concerted Action has the task of coordinating nationally funded research on the processing of sewage sludges and animal slurries. It also serves to promote regular exchanges of information on relevant research among the 15 countries participating in the COST 681 activity. The object of this ‘round-table’ was to review and discuss new research developments in the field of sludge and slurry processing. Some of the research described is still at a fairly early stage, but in other cases it has reached the phase of practical application.

Three of the papers relate to sludge dewatering methods, two relate to methods of aerobic stabilization of sludge and another paper describes a novel development in the conversion of sewage sludge to a usable fuel. The results of examining the influence of sludge processing techniques on some of the important organic micropollutants in sewage sludges are described in other contributions. The remaining paper deals with research on new ways of processing animal manures. The wide variety of research topics covered are critically reviewed and assessed by two members of Working Party No. 1—Professor Tom Casey and Professor Peter Balmer.

It is expected that the information presented will be of value both to other researchers in the field of sludge and slurry processing and, equally important, to the practitioners who are involved with the design and operation of processing plant.

Authors: A.M. Bruce, P. L'Hermite, P.J. Newman