Effects of partial ozonation on activated sludge process for the minimization of excess sludge production during biological treatment

Minimization of excess sludge production may be achieved by either changes in operational conditions or by the treatment of recycled activated sludge. It was investigated using ozone-treated return activated sludge in lab-scale activated sludge process operated continuously with optimum conditions determined using Box–Behnken experimental design method as 400 mg/L initial chemical oxygen demand concentration (CODi), 25 h hydraulic retention time, and 25 d solid retention time, respectively. Batch experiments were carried out in order to determine the optimum ozone dose of 0.05g O3/g total solid considering disintegration degree (DD). Ozone reactor (OR) and control reactor (CR) were evaluated considering sludge reduction capacity, effluent quality, and sludge characteristics. About 61 and 40% reductions can be achieved in mixed liquor suspended solid concentration and observed sludge yield value in OR compared to CR, respectively. The effluent quality in terms of COD and NH4–N removal in OR was not significantly affected by ozonation. The dewatering capacity was slightly weakened while little improvement was observed in filtering capacity in OR compared to CR, in terms of capillary suction time and specific resistance to filtration. Particle size changed and sludge destruction led to an increase of small particles.