SludgeTech 2017

IWA’s Specialist Conference on Sludge Management –  SludgeTech 2017 – was held on July 9–13, 2017 at Imperial College London. It was a great success, with many productive conversations happening in the exhibit area, and a number of very interesting technical papers presented.

Our Ashish Sahu (Product and Technology Applications Manager) presented a technical paper entitled “Enhanced Filtration with Rotating Belt Filter for Higher Methane Potential from Primary Wastewater Sludge”.

Ashish Sahu presenting at IWA's SludgeTech 2017

This scientific study shows that a higher methane potential can be obtained from the sludge of rotating belt filters (RBFs) with the addition of a small dosage of polymer (1.0 mg/L).  The cost of the polymer is minimal for the added value a utility can receive which includes higher bioenergy on cogeneration and a lower level of particulates entering downstream processes.

If you missed SludgeTech and would like a copy of Ashish’s presentation, contact us.

The Salsnes Filter team at their SludgeTech booth

The Salsnes Filter Team at SludgeTech 2017: from left, Roger Webb, Stefano Salvatore, Jon Leech.

Further Reading:

Full List of Salsnes Filter Publications
 (including Scientific Publications, Conference Proceedings and White Papers)

 

SMART-Plant Pilot Project: Recovering Cellulose from Salsnes Filter Sludge

June 29th, 2017 marked the inauguration of a first-of-its-kind cellulose harvesting system installed at the Geestmerambacht Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the Netherlands.

This pilot system is considered to be the world’s first full-scale installation that uses sewage to produce a significant amount of high-grade cellulose that can be reused in commercial products.

Sludge as a Valuable Asset

Sewage sludge has commonly been thought of as waste, and a problem to dispose of. The Geestmerambacht WWTP pilot project intends to prove that sludge can be a valuable asset in which resources can be recovered and reused.

Salsnes Filter system installed t the Geestmerambacht Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

Salsnes Filter system installed at the Geestmerambacht Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

It is one of six pilot systems hosted by SMART-Plant, an initiative which finds innovative treatment technologies that can demonstrate environmental sustainability and prove the feasibility of circular wastewater management (an alternative to the traditional model where waste has no beneficial reuse).

Marketable Celluose – Cleaned, Dried & Disinfected

Harvested cellulose

At the WWTP, a Salsnes Filter system is installed (in collaboration with our partner CirTec) for primary treatment, separating cellulose fibers from toilet paper in the wastewater to produce a highly-concentrated sludge.

The sludge is then sent for post-processing inside the treatment plant.

The end result: marketable cellulose that has been cleaned, dried and disinfected.

Cellulose harvesting is anticipated to have added benefits to the WWTP’s downstream biological process. Results are expected to show energy savings and a reduced amount of secondary sludge produced.

Further Information

  • Read more about SMART-Plant and our involvement in this exciting project

Media Coverage

BBC Word News Segment

 

RTL Z Segment
Watch this video about the project from Dutch business and financial news channel, RTL Z.