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Using of indigenous bulking agents (IBAs) in complementary stabilization and enhancing of dewatered sludge class B to class a on a full scale

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Abstract

Background

Different bulking agents are used in the compost of dewatered sludge (DWS). The aim of this study has been using of indigenous bulking agents (IBAs) in the enhancing of the DWS class of municipal wastewater from class B to class A and complementary stabilization of it for production of green manure in Sari city, Iran.

Methods

Three IBAs including the Saccharum Wastes (SW), Citrus Purning Wastes (CPW) and Phragmites Australis (PA) from eight IBAs were selected to be compared with the sawdust (SD) that was as a control bulking agent. Five turned windrow piles were constructed on a full scale and on base of optimal C/N equal 25.All experiments were performed on the base of the standard methods on initial mix and final compost.

Results

Among five windrow piles, P5 was been the best pile with a weighting ratio of DWS to IBAs (DWS: SW: CPW: PA) equal 1: 0.2: 0.24: 0.28. Pile P1 with weighting ratio DWS: SW equal 1: 0.6, Pile P3 with weighting ratio DWS: PA equal 1: 0.84, Pile P2 with weighting ratio DWS: CPW equal 1: 0.73 and Pile P4 with weighting ratio DWS: SD equal 1: 0.57 were placed in the next rounds. The results showed that the class of DWS enhanced to Class A for about 80 to 97 days and complementary stabilization of DWS by IBAs was done well and produced green manure in term of organic matter, potassium, germination index, PH, C/N and electrical conductivity had reached to the Grade 1 of Iran’s manure 10716 standard and in term of phosphorus and moisture had reached to the Grade 2 of this standard. Also heavy metals were below the maximum permissible of standards.

Conclusion

Using of IBAs, had a higher efficiency than the control bulking agent (sawdust) in enhancing sludge class and its stabilization, so that using of them in combination (mix of IBAs) had the highest efficiency and respectively, Saccharum Wastes (SW), Phragmites Australis (PA), Citrus pruning wastes (CPW) were placed in the next round, and sawdust was placed after them. By adding suitable IBAS, with an optimal ratio in turned windrow method, the class of DWS of sari WWTP enhanced to Class A and complementary stabilization of DWS has been well done and the produced green manure has been reached to agricultural standards and can be safely used in agriculture.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank from the Mazandaran Wastewater Company for financially supporting and Faculty of health of the Mazandaran Medical Science University for collaboration of this research project (Project No: 2551/150).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Mostafa Aghili, Nasser Mehrdadi & Behnoush Aminzadeh

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineerig, School of Health, Medical Science University of Mazandaran, Sari, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Zazouli

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  1. Seyed Mostafa Aghili
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Correspondence to Seyed Mostafa Aghili.

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Aghili, S.M., Mehrdadi, N., Aminzadeh, B. et al. Using of indigenous bulking agents (IBAs) in complementary stabilization and enhancing of dewatered sludge class B to class a on a full scale. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 17, 767–777 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-019-00393-8

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