Wastewater Sludge Dewatering for Champion-Hamilton Treatment Facility

One of the goals of the Champion International Paper Mill in Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A. , is to meet discharge requirements at minimal cost. Five areas were studied to reduce costs operation of the primary sedimentation basin; chemical polymers in the primary sedimentation basin; pretreatment of the primary sludge; operation of the screw presses; and sludge disposal options. The studies showed that the screw press was a valuable device for dewatering paper mill sludges. Higher concentrations of solids were obtained using lower operating speeds and a motor load control system. The operation of the screw press was further improved by adding an anionic polymer to the clarifier, using a cationic polymer to condition the sludge prior to the screw press and using a gravity thickener. Better systems for determining the dosage and addition of polymers were required.