Abstract
Experiments on batch aerobic digestion in continuous aeration were carried out. The activated sludges acclimated to glucose at various sludge ages and the sludge of a municipal wastewater treatment plant were used. The VSS/SS of the acclimated sludges kept a constant value during digestion, while that of the sludge of the municipal wastewater treatment plant decreased during the progress of digestion. As sludge age decreased, VSS decreased quickly with the progress of digestion and the final ratio of VSS decomposition increased. The decomposition rate of sludge was proportional to the biodegradable VSS, and its proportional constant (rate constant of decomposition) increased as sludge age decreased. Furthermore, the oxygen uptake rate of sludge was related to the decomposition rate of VSS for both acclimated sludge and municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge, based on the reaction model of aerobic digestion.
