Enhancement of municipal sludge dewaterability by electrochemical pretreatment.

Electrolysis is a promising technology to improve sludge dewaterability efficiently with negligible environmental impact. To intensify the electrolytic efficiency, the effect of electrolytes (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaNO3, and NaClO4) on electrolysis pretreatment of municipal sludge and its mechanisms was investigated using Ti/PbO2 electrodes. The electrolytes, which enhanced the production of oxidative radicals, showed a significant synergetic effect in reducing the capillary suction time (CST) of sludge. NaCl was distinguished from the other electrolytes since it formed a large amount of active chlorine species, which oxidized the sludge cells to improve the sludge dewaterability. The surface morphologies as well as the soluble proteins and polysaccharides were analyzed to unravel the underlying mechanisms of sludge dewaterability. Additionally, an economic assessment showed that NaCl addition in the electrolysis pretreatment can be a suitable technique for enhancing municipal sludge dewaterability.