Enhancement in mesophilic aerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by chemically assisted thermal pretreatment method

▸ MW-alkali method (pH 12-95 °C) synergistically attained 52.5% COD solubilization. ▸ 54% VSS solubilization was observed. ▸ 81.1% TCOD and 72.4% VSS reductions was achieved after mesophilic aerobic digestion. ▸ 44% improvement in sludge filterability after aerobic digestion of pretreated sludge. ▸ Proposed method can produce sludge of good filterability & Class A quality.