Fenton mediated ultrasonic disintegration of sludge biomass: Biodegradability studies, energetic assessment, and its economic viability

- Fenton mediated sonic disintegration of sludge is a novel method.
- Removal of EPS considerably reduces the energy demand of ultrasonication.
- The proposed method shows a higher substrate conversion efficiency (0.7 g SCOD/g VSS).
- Highest solubilization of about 34.4% was achieved by this method.
- A positive net profit of about 44.93 USD/Ton of sludge was achieved by this approach.

Mechanical disintegration of sludge through ultrasonication demands high energy and cost. Therefore, in the present study, a comprehensive investigation was performed to analyze the potential of a novel method, fenton mediated sonic disintegration (FSD). In FSD process, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of sludge was first removed via fenton treatment. It was subsequently disintegrated via ultrasonication. Energetic assessment and economic analysis were then performed using net energy and cost gain (spent) as key factor to evaluate the practical viability of the FSD process. FSD was found to be superior over sonic disintegration based on its higher sludge solubilization (34.4% vs. 23.2%) and methane production potential (0.3 g COD/g COD vs. 0.2 g COD/g COD). Both energy analysis and cost assessment of the present study revealed that FSD could reduce the energy demand of ultrasonication considerably with a positive net profit of about 44.93 USD/Ton of sludge.

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