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Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability
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Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 7592

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lixiang Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: organic solid waste treatment; highly concentrated organic wastewater treatment
Prof. Dr. Guanyu Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: organic solid waste treatment; environmental microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wastewater treatment plants are serving billions of people worldwide. However, sewage sludge as a byproduct of wastewater treatment still brings environmental burdens because of the various types of chemical and/or biological pollutants present in sewage sludge. On one hand, the land application of biosolids has been proven to usefully recycle the nutrients in sewage sludge; on the other hand, many more efforts are still needed to recover energy, value-added products, or others from sewage sludge. Hence, our understanding of sludge treatment by conventional technologies, such as anaerobic digestion and composting, or by some innovative technology, the revelation of pollutant fates during the utilization of sludge and biosolids, and the assessment of environmental consequences of the utilization of sludge and biosolids are all important for the sustainability of biosolids and sludge management.

Given this background, we are pleased to announce a Special Issue on the “Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability”.

This Special Issue will publish high-quality research papers or reviews that improve our understanding of (i) identification, profiling and removal of pollutants from sludge and biosolids, (ii) recovery of energy or nutrients from sludge and biosolids, (iii) development and application of sludge treatment technology, (iv) environmental consequences of biosolids land applications, and (v) education for sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Lixiang Zhou
Prof. Dr. Guanyu Zheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sludge
  • biosolids
  • treatment
  • pollutant
  • sustainability
  • environmental and sustainability assessment

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2901 KiB  
Article
Effect of Biochar-Containing Compost on Cucumber Quality and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Abundance in Soil–Cucumber System
by Zhenye Tong, Fenwu Liu, Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan, Bo Sun, Yu Tian, Qihui Zuo, Jingzhi Zhang, Jiaze Duan, Wenlong Bi, Junmei Qin and Shaozu Xu
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129563 - 14 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1211
Abstract
The distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) derived from compost in soil–plant systems is a serious issue. One possible remedy is the application of biochar-containing compost. In this study, cucumber quality and the abundance of ARGs in soil–cucumber systems under different compost treatments, [...] Read more.
The distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) derived from compost in soil–plant systems is a serious issue. One possible remedy is the application of biochar-containing compost. In this study, cucumber quality and the abundance of ARGs in soil–cucumber systems under different compost treatments, namely, traditional pig manure and corn straw compost (PC); pig manure, corn straw, and large particle size biochar (5–10 mm) compost (PCLB); and pig manure, corn straw, and small particle size biochar (<2 mm) compost (PCSB); were investigated. The results showed that, under PCSB, the yield, vitamin C and soluble protein content of the cucumbers were the highest, while the absolute abundance of intI2 was reduced in the soil. The amount of available potassium in the soil contributed the most to changes in cucumber yield and quality. The total absolute abundance of ARGs in the soil was highest in PC, followed by PCLB, PCSB, and CK (control treatment without fertilization) treatments. Compared to CK treatments, PCLB and PCSB applications to the soil decreased the abundance of sul1 and tetG by 42–57% and 38–80%, respectively, in the cucumbers. In summary, the PCSB application was more beneficial in increasing soil nutrient content; improving cucumber yield, vitamin C, and soluble protein content; and reducing the risk of input and transport of ARGs in the soil–cucumber system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability)
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11 pages, 2110 KiB  
Article
Reasons for Ineffectiveness in Improving Dewaterability of Anaerobically Digested Sludge by Bioleaching
by Haochi Zhang, Dejin Zhang, Yujun Zhou, Di Fang, Chunhong Cui, Jianru Liang, Bo Zhou, Mingjiang Zhang, Jiansheng Li and Lixiang Zhou
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4789; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064789 - 08 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 891
Abstract
The use of bioleaching for anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) was found to be ineffective compared to using it for undigested sludge (UDS) for reasons elucidated in this study. Results showed that specific resistance to filtration of ADS increased during bioleaching. The pH value [...] Read more.
The use of bioleaching for anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) was found to be ineffective compared to using it for undigested sludge (UDS) for reasons elucidated in this study. Results showed that specific resistance to filtration of ADS increased during bioleaching. The pH value of ADS increased to 7.97 and remained unchanged during bioleaching, while it decreased to 2.98 for UDS. Added Fe2+ was not detected as the energy source for ADS. Higher alkalinity and unavailable Fe2+ in ADS prevented the growth of the Acidithiobacillus species. It was found that sludge pH increased to 8.40 and then stayed within an alkaline range, whereas slime EPS content rapidly increased to 8.13 mg DOC/g VSS. These results indicated that aeration seriously deteriorated the dewaterability of ADS through bioleaching due to the unexpected drastic increase of sludge pH and slime EPS content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability)
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14 pages, 4478 KiB  
Article
Fate of Sulfate in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and Its Effect on Sludge Recycling as a Fuel Source
by Que Nguyen Ho, Giridhar Babu Anam, Jaein Kim, Somin Park, Tae-U Lee, Jae-Young Jeon, Yun-Young Choi, Young-Ho Ahn and Byung Joon Lee
Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010311 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2639
Abstract
Wastewater sludge is used as an alternative fuel due to its high organic content and calorific value. However, influent characteristics and operational practices of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can increase the sulfur content of sludge, devaluing it as a fuel. Thus, we investigated [...] Read more.
Wastewater sludge is used as an alternative fuel due to its high organic content and calorific value. However, influent characteristics and operational practices of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can increase the sulfur content of sludge, devaluing it as a fuel. Thus, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms that elevate the sulfur content of sludge in a full-scale industrial WWTP receiving wastewater of the textile dyeing industry and a domestic WWTP by monitoring the sulfate, sulfur, and iron contents and the biochemical transformation of sulfate to sulfur in the wastewater and sludge treatment streams. A batch sulfate reduction rate test and microbial 16S rRNA and dsrB gene sequencing analyses were applied to assess the potential and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and their effect on sulfur deposition. This study indicated that the primary clarifier and anaerobic digester prominently reduced sulfate concentration through biochemical sulfate reduction and iron–sulfur complexation under anaerobic conditions, from 1247 mg/L in the influent to 6.2~59.8 mg/L in the industrial WWTP and from 46.7 mg/L to 0~0.8 mg/L in the domestic WWTPs. The anaerobic sludge, adapted in the high sulfate concentration of the industrial WWTP, exhibited a two times higher specific sulfate reduction rate (0.13 mg SO42−/gVSS/h) and sulfur content (3.14% DS) than the domestic WWTP sludge. Gene sequencing analysis of the population structure of common microbes and sulfate-reducing bacteria indicated the diversity of microorganisms involved in biochemical sulfate reduction in the sulfur cycle, supporting the data revealed by chemical analysis and batch tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability)
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Review

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12 pages, 835 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Sludge Co-Pyrolysis Technology
by Lei Han, Jinling Li, Chengtun Qu, Zhiguo Shao, Tao Yu and Bo Yang
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7574; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137574 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2167
Abstract
With the development of society and industry, the treatment and disposal of sludge have become a challenge for environmental protection. Co-pyrolysis is considered a sustainable technology to optimize the pyrolysis process and improve the quality and performance of pyrolysis products. Researchers have investigated [...] Read more.
With the development of society and industry, the treatment and disposal of sludge have become a challenge for environmental protection. Co-pyrolysis is considered a sustainable technology to optimize the pyrolysis process and improve the quality and performance of pyrolysis products. Researchers have investigated the sludge co-pyrolysis process of sludge with other wastes, such as biomass, coal, and domestic waste, in laboratories. Co-pyrolysis technology has reduced pyrolysis energy consumption and improved the range and quality of pyrolysis product applications. In this paper, the various types of sludge and the factors influencing co-pyrolysis technology have been classified and summarized. Simultaneously, some reported studies have been conducted to investigate the co-pyrolysis characteristics of sludge with other wastes, such as biomass, coal, and domestic waste. In addition, the research on and development of sludge co-pyrolysis are expected to provide theoretical support for the development of sludge co-pyrolysis technology. However, the technological maturity of sludge pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis is far and needs further study to achieve industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosolids and Sludge of Sustainability)
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