Waste activated sludge hydrolysis during ultrasonication: Two-step disintegration

Si Kyung Cho, Hang Sik Shin, Dong Hoon Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to clearly describe the hydrolysis of waste activated sludge (WAS) during ultrasonication by a 2-step disintegration process, concentrations of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and bound extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) were measured. Apparently, different decreasing patterns of RNA and EPS concentrations during WAS hydrolysis made it possible to distinguish the floc disintegration (FD) and cell lysis (CL). Initially, FD and CL appear to take simultaneously, but the dominant hydrolytic process is shifted from FD to CL after 10. min of ultrasonication. Additional kinetic analysis of WAS hydrolysis was also conducted. A five-fold greater hydrolysis rate constant of FD relative to that of CL was observed, reflecting the different strengths of floc and cells. Therefore, different rates of increased solubilization during WAS hydrolysis appear to account for the initial disintegration of the rather loose part (sludge floc) and the subsequent disintegration of the rigid part (microbial cells).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)480-483
Number of pages4
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume121
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • 2-Step disintegration process
  • First order kinetic analysis
  • Hydrolysis
  • Ultrasonication
  • Waste activated sludge (WAS)

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