Anaerobic Sludge Digestion

Anaerobic sludge digestion is a process typically employed at many wastewater treatment plants to treat (or stabilize), the various primary and secondary sludges produced. Anaerobic sludge digestion also reduces odours and bacteria levels, decreases the amount of solids present in the sludge (and hence hauling costs), and produces energy in the form of methane and carbon dioxide gases which can be utilized as an energy source at the facility.

As the name implies, stabilization of sludges occur in the absence of oxygen.  Digestion occurs in three stages.  In the first stage, complex solid organics, cellulose, proteins, lignins and lipids are broken down by extracellular enzymes into soluble organic fatty acids, alcohols, carbon dioxide and ammonia.  In the second stage, the products of the first stage are converted into various organic acids and alcohols by acid forming microorganisms.  In the third stage, two forms of methane-forming bacteria convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane and acetate to methane and carbon dioxide.

The rate limiting stage (i.e. the stage which is the slowest) controls the process.  This is usually stage three since the methane forming bacteria reproduce very slowly.  These methane bacteria are also very sensitive to environmental factors such as pH, alkalinity, temperature and toxins and, therefore, the control of these factors is very important to control the digestion process.

Anaerobic sludge digestion can involve a conventional standard-rate single stage process; a high rate continuous-flow stirred process or; a two-stage process.

The two stage process (utilized at the Petawawa WPCP) incorporates a first stage (primary) digesters and a second stage (secondary) digesters. Digestion occurs in the primary digester vessel.  Raw sludges are sent to the primary digester where they are mixed and heated usually through circulation lines and by gas mixing equipment.

Digested sludge is then transferred to the secondary digesters. The secondary digester serves four purposes: as a storage vessel for digested solids, as a standby primary tank, as a source for seed, and, as a quiescent basin for supernatant withdrawal.  Sludge from the primary digester is conveyed by gravity to the secondary digester where it settles and stratifies into gas, scum, supernatant and digested sludge layers. Gas is withdrawn from the top of the digesters and can be used as an energy source (or alternatively wasted), and supernatant is decanted to minimize sludge haulage costs.  Digested sludge and scum can be transferred to a storage facility or directly to hauling trucks.