Sludge reduction by an anaerobic side-stream reactor process: A full-scale application

Abstract In the present paper, a new process, whose acronym is UTN (University of Trento) system, proposed and tested at full scale for reducing amount sludge wastewater treatment plant. The system allows reduction in conventional activated (CAS) due to cell lysis, decay and, above all, selection slow growing microorganism. this study, first full-scale was by retrofitting an existing plant located Marmirolo (Lombardia, Italy) having capacity 6,000 population equivalent (PE). Performances were evaluated terms reduction, together with organic carbon nutrients removal efficiencies. Results obtained over 10 month monitoring period, divided period I (7 months) II (3 months), characterized different operative conditions, have reported specific production 0.37 0.23 kg TSS per kg COD removed, respectively; which 50% 69% lower than that observed reference when worked under process. Furthermore, results revealed high typical pollutants, without causing negative effects on effluent quality, always ensuring compliance regulatory discharge limits.