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Management Optimization of Waste Water Treatment Plants Sewage Sludge Produced in the Algarve

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INCREaSE 2019 (INCREaSE 2019)

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Abstract

The Algarve region produces about 30 000 tons of dehydrated sewage sludge per year (period 2013–2015; 20% dry matter), a figure that will increase by around 50% in the coming years, with the new activated sludge treatment systems of Companheira (Portimão) and Faro-Olhão. More than 70% of this sludge is transported in trucks further than 200 kilometres out of the region for additional treatment due to its lack of microbial quality (usually Escherichia coli > 1 000 MPN/g Original Matter (OM) and/or Salmonella is present in 50 g OM), leading to high carbon emissions and high management costs. The aim of this work was to integrate the management of this by-product with local treatment and to create valorisation solutions, e.g. use in agriculture and/or as a secondary fuel in the industry. According to the data collected, the sludge is not sent directly to agricultural soils, only because of its values of microbiological parameters, which exceed the legal Limit Value. It was found that considering the fertilization needs of the agricultural crops and the restrictions imposed, all the produced sludge can be incorporated in the soil locally. Dewatering is a critical stage for sludge treatment with major impact on sludge management costs, thus its optimization is required. Furthermore, the adoption of complementary sewage treatment technology, such as solar drying, that allow a properly stabilized product, which can be applied directly to agricultural soils, or opening new opportunities for its valorisation, can promote economic and environmental sustainability, in a circular based economy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Águas do Algarve, S.A., Rua do Repouso 10, 8000-302, Faro, Portugal

    Nuno Silva & António Martins

  2. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Jaime Aníbal

  3. CIMA – Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Jaime Aníbal

Authors
  1. Nuno Silva
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  2. António Martins
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  3. Jaime Aníbal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nuno Silva .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Jânio Monteiro

  2. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    António João Silva

  3. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    António Mortal

  4. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Jaime Aníbal

  5. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Manuela Moreira da Silva

  6. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Miguel Oliveira

  7. Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Nelson Sousa

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Silva, N., Martins, A., Aníbal, J. (2020). Management Optimization of Waste Water Treatment Plants Sewage Sludge Produced in the Algarve. In: Monteiro, J., et al. INCREaSE 2019. INCREaSE 2019. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30938-1_55

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30938-1_55

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-30937-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-30938-1

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