<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Large quantity of sewage sludge originating from wastewater treatment plants is becoming a growing problem from environmental and human health points of view. One of the ways to use sewage sludge is agricultural purpose due to its nutrients and organic matter content, but the condition is that it should be deprived of pathogenic bacteria and parasite egg contamination. Application of ionizing radiation to hygienize sewage sludge can make it appropriate for agricultural use. The process does not require addition of chemicals to sludge; it is environmentally friendly and effective in removal of biological threats. In the past, successful attempts of sewage sludge treatment using ionizing radiation were made. Pilot plants and commercial ones proved that pathogens can be easily removed from sewage sludge by ionizing radiation. The concept of ‘zero energy’ biogas plant is based on the construction of a complex system consisting of biogas plant and electron accelerator in the biofertilizer manufacturing line. Digestate originating from the methane fermentation of sewage sludge is irradiated to remove all pathogens using electron beam from an accelerator powered by electric energy obtained from burning biogas in a cogenerator. The product is a high-quality, biologically safe fertilizer.</p></abstract>

Large quantity of sewage sludge originating from wastewater treatment plants is becoming a growing problem from environmental and human health points of view. One of the ways to use sewage sludge is agricultural purpose due to its nutrients and organic matter content, but the condition is that it should be deprived of pathogenic bacteria and parasite egg contamination. Application of ionizing radiation to hygienize sewage sludge can make it appropriate for agricultural use. The process does not require addition of chemicals to sludge; it is environmentally friendly and effective in removal of biological threats. In the past, successful attempts of sewage sludge treatment using ionizing radiation were made. Pilot plants and commercial ones proved that pathogens can be easily removed from sewage sludge by ionizing radiation. The concept of ‘zero energy’ biogas plant is based on the construction of a complex system consisting of biogas plant and electron accelerator in the biofertilizer manufacturing line. Digestate originating from the methane fermentation of sewage sludge is irradiated to remove all pathogens using electron beam from an accelerator powered by electric energy obtained from burning biogas in a cogenerator. The product is a high-quality, biologically safe fertilizer.

‘Zero energy’ electron beam technology for sludge hygienization

Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"\u2018Zero energy\u2019 electron beam technology for sludge hygienization"}

Large quantity of sewage sludge originating from wastewater treatment plants is becoming a growing problem from environmental and human health points of view....

‘Zero energy’ electron beam technology for sludge hygienization

Published Online: Apr 24, 2019

Page range: 55 - 63

Received: Feb 18, 2019

Accepted: Mar 08, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2019-0007

Keywords
biogas, sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, hygienization

© 2019 Andrzej G. Chmielewski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

‘Zero energy’ electron beam technology for sludge hygienization

Published Online: Apr 24, 2019

Page range: 55 - 63

Received: Feb 18, 2019

Accepted: Mar 08, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2019-0007

Keywordsbiogas, sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, hygienization

© 2019 Andrzej G. Chmielewski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
biogas, sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, hygienization