Compression and swelling of activated sludge cakes during dewatering

A drainage/filtration apparatus was developed for automatically determining sedimentation velocity and dewatering rate. Pressure-step testing was used to study filter cake compressibility, resistance, and swelling. Activated sludge was analysed, and the data indicate that the sludge is highly compressible even at low pressures (10 kPa). Furthermore, compressed sludge cakes swell if the pressure is released. Hence, the average specific cake resistance decreases if the pressure is released, though the resistance is higher after the compression cycle than before. Sludge must be dewatered under low pressure, because higher pressure only compresses the cake and does not improve the dewatering rate. ► An apparatus has been developed for rapidly determining sedimentation velocity and resistances. ► Pressure-step testing method has been used to study cake compression and swelling. ► Activated sludge cakes swells partly i.e. the resistance decreases with decreasing pressure.