Dewaterability Enhancement of Anaerobic Sludge Using Polymeric Aluminum Chloride and Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether Surfactants

The use of coagulants, such as ferric chloride hexahydrate, in wastewater treatment processes is known to induce pipe corrosion and to contribute to the discoloration of treated water. This study explores alternative approaches to sludge dewatering by evaluating the effectiveness of polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC) as a coagulant and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (POAE) as a surfactant. The impacts of coagulation/flocculation were assessed using time to filtration (TTF) and a pressure filter press. The effects of certain coagulant and surfactant dosages were studied. The inputs were in the range of 105–1750 mg/L for PAC and 28–152 mg/L for POAE, which were determined based on zeta potential (ZP) measurements. The optimal concentrations were 876 mg/L for PAC and 114 mg/L for POAE, resulting in a TTF of less than 1 min. Moreover, the effect of pH on anaerobic sludge dewaterability was investigated. At a low pH below 8, the ZP reached the maximum value, and a higher pH resulted in a reduction in ZP. Under low-pH adjustments, it was observed that the dewatering performance of the POAE surfactant improved more significantly than that of the PAC coagulant. In addition, the effect of pressure was analyzed using a pressure filter under conditions favoring POAE, with relatively lower dosages and greater cost-effectiveness. In order to evaluate the solubility of organic matter under pressurized conditions, the filtrate’s removal efficiency, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphorus (TP) were investigated. Solubilization did not occur at an increased pressure of around 10 bars. The findings presented in this study provide technical assistance for sludge treatment.