Modern technologies and trends in the use and managing of waste sludge from wastewater treatment plant

U današnje vrijeme, kada je potražnja za vodom u stalnom porastu, nužno je razmatrati pročišćavanje otpadnih voda kao novi nekonvencionalni izvor. Razlog povećanoj potražnje je rast stanovništva koji mijenja postojeće obrasce potrošnje. Prema nekim istraživanjima, očekuje se da će globalna potražnja za vodom nastaviti rasti stopom od oko 1 % godišnje do 2050. godine. Uspoređujući s današnjom potrošnjom, do 2050. godine će doći do povećanja potrošnje vode od 20-30 %. Otpadni mulj je nusproizvod pročišćavanja otpadnih voda. Sastav mulja je složen i čini ga mješavina anorganskih i organskih tvari raspršenih u vodi. U mulju se mogu nalaziti i patogeni mikroorganizmi, virusi, paraziti te drugi toksični elementi i spojevi. Prije nego što se mulj vrati u prirodu potrebno ga je obraditi u skladu s ekološkim i zakonskim regulativama. U ovom diplomskom radu opisane su suvremene tehnologije i trendovi zbrinjavanja otpadnog mulja nastalog tijekom procesa pročišćavanja otpadne vode. Detaljno su opisana fizikalna, kemijska i mikrobiološka svojstva otpadnog mulja te ključni postupci u obradi i zbrinjavanju Opisano je stanje i načini zbrinjavanja otpadnog mulja u Republici Hrvatskoj te najučinkovitiji primjeri zbrinjavanja otpadnog mulja u pojedinim državama u svijetu.Currently, where water demands are in stable increase, it is necessary to consider wastewater treatment as a new source of unconventional resources. Population growth cause the increased demand water and changing consumption patterns. According to some research, global water demand is expected to continue growing with a rate of around 1% per year until 2050. Comparing today's energy consumption, by 2050 there will be an increase in water consumption of 20-30%. Waste sludge is formed as a by-product of wastewater treatment. The sludge has a complex composition. It is a mixture of inorganic and organic substances which are dispersed in the water. The sludge may also contain viruses, pathogenic microorganisms, parasites and other toxic compounds and elements. Before the sludge returns to nature, it must be treated in accordance with environmental and legal regulations. This graduate thesis describes modern technologies and trends in disposal of waste sludge generated during the wastewater treatment process. The physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of waste sludge are explained in detail, as well as basic procedures in treatment sludge disposal. The currently situation and methods of sludge disposal in Croatia are also described in this paper, as well as the most efficient examples of waste sludge disposal in some world countries