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Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content

Article  in  Water Science & Technology · March 2015

DOI: 10.2166/wst.2015.152

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 1686 © IWA Publishing 2015 Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid

content
Yingchao Cheng and Huan Li

ABSTRACT
Yingchao Cheng
Sludge rheological properties play a fundamental role in determining its performance in pipes, tanks
Huan Li (corresponding author)
or reactors. However, the relative information on high-solids sludge is very rare. In this study, the Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and
Risk Control of Shenzhen,
rheological properties of high-solids sludge were investigated systematically and a new rheological Graduate School at Shenzhen,
Tsinghua University,
model was built. The results showed that the low-solids sludge with total solids content (TS) 2–15% Shenzhen 518055,
was pseudoplastic fluid, and the high-solids sludge with TS 7–15% exhibited thixotropic property. China
E-mail: [email protected]
Sludge viscosity increased exponentially with the increasing TS, and decreased in function of power
Yingchao Cheng
along with the increasing shear rate. The new complex model combining the exponential model and Joint Research Center of Urban Resource Recycling
Technology of Graduate School at Shenzhen,
the power model can perfectly describe the relation between TS, shear rate and viscosity of the high- Tsinghua University and Shenzhen Green Eco-
Manufacturer High-Tech Co. Ltd,
solids sludge. Both sludge organic content and temperature have influence on sludge viscosity, but Shenzhen 518055,
China
the influence was not significant for the low-solids sludge. For the high-solids sludge with TS 6%, 8%,
10% and 12%, their viscosities increased by 5.0, 9.1, 25.7 and 24.9 times, respectively, when sludge
organic content increased from 28% to 53%, and decreased by 36.5%, 49.5%, 54.0% and 65.4%,
W
respectively, when sludge temperature rose from 9 to 55 C.
Key words | rheology, sewage sludge, solids concentration, viscosity

INTRODUCTION

Primary sludge and excess sludge are the residues dis- including wastewater sources, treatment processes, chemi-
charged from wastewater treatment process. Since sludge cal additives and mechanical operations like thickening
contains various pollutants, proper treatment and disposal (Baroutian et al. ; Gupta et al. ).
are necessary (Farno et al. ). In wastewater treatment Activated sludge is generally recognized as a kind of
plants (WWTPs) they are commonly mixed, concentrated, non-Newtonian fluid, i.e. apparent viscosities measured
digested and dewatered in sequence. The dewatered sludge under different shear rates are different (Ron ). Rose-
can be further composted, dried and then incinerated, or Innes & Nossel () reported that the thickened sludge
finally disposed of in landfill sites. During these different with TS 1.5–9% was a kind of pseudoplastic fluid. For the
steps, total solids content (TS) and volatile solids content concentrated activated sludge with TS 1.6–3.1% from nine
(VS, percentage in TS) of sludge change step by step due different membrane bioreactors (MBRs), the viscosity
to the removal or conversion of water and organic matter decreased by one or two orders of magnitude along with
in sludge. For example, TS of excess sludge generally increasing shear rate (Rosenberger et al. ). Some
range from 0.2 to 2%, TS of thickened sludge are about 2– models have been developed to describe the relationship
4%, TS of digested sludge are 2–6% and TS of dewatered between sludge apparent viscosity and shear rate. The Ost-
sludge are around 20% and more. Along with the change wald model (power) was used to describe the relation
of sludge TS and VS, sludge rheological properties also between shear rate and viscosity of the sludge with TS
change. Sludge rheological properties play a fundamental 0.3–3% derived from a MBR (Pollice et al. ). The
role in determining sludge performance in pipes, tanks or Bingham model (linear with yield) was used to describe
reactors during sludge treatment and disposal (Baroutian the rheological behavior of the digested sludge with TS 4
et al. ). Due to the complex compositions of sludge, its and 6%, which was recognized as plastic fluid, i.e. initial
rheological properties are influenced by various factors stress was necessary for the sludge to begin flowing

doi: 10.2166/wst.2015.152
 1687 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

(Eftekharzadeh et al. ). Sludge with TS 9% exhibited However, high-solids sludge is also applied during different
shear-thinning properties (apparent viscosity decreased treatment processes, e.g. high-solids anaerobic digestion
with increasing shear rates), and the Herschel–Bulkley (Duan et al. ), transport (Eftekharzadeh et al. )
model (power with yield) was suitable (Eftekharzadeh and mixture (Bollon et al. ). For example, high-solids
et al. ). The result was in accordance with that con- anaerobic digestion of the sludge with TS 6–15% has
ducted from the mixture of primary and secondary sludge gained increasing attention due to its advantages of smaller
with TS 4.3–9.8% (Baroutian et al. ). reactors, higher volumetric methane yield and less heating
Solids concentration was the most important factor energy consumption. Nevertheless, the information on
governing the fluid resistance of sludge (Rose-Innes & rheology properties of high-solids sludge is very rare (Slatter
Nossel ). Some models have been developed to describe ; Sozanski et al. ; Kirby ). Thus, this work
the relation between sludge viscosity and its solids focused on the rheology properties of the sludge with TS
concentration (Table 1). Besides shear rate and solids con- 2–15%. At first, sludge rheological properties were investi-
centration, sludge composition and temperature are also gated at different shear rates, and then the relation
relevant factors influencing sludge rheological behavior. It between sludge viscosity and sludge solids concentration
was found that the activated sludge with higher extracellular was quantitatively measured. The influence of temperature
W
polymeric substances (EPS) content had slightly higher vis- was then explored at the temperatures of 35 and 55 C,
cosity (Rosenberger et al. ). Some pretreatments can which are also the temperatures usually used in sludge
disintegrate sludge aggregates and cells, break the microbial anaerobic digesters. Based on the above data, a model was
slurry where sludge particles interact with each other, and built for high-solids sludge to describe the relationship
thus cause a decrease in apparent viscosity of sludge (Moha- between solids concentration, shearing rate and sludge vis-
patra et al. ). Temperature is another factor influencing cosity. Finally, the influence of sludge organic content was
sludge viscosity, and sludge becomes more fluid when the also analyzed, which may provide some insight into the vari-
temperature increases. Thermal treatment was consequently ation of sludge viscosity.
used to decrease sludge viscosity, and longer treatment dur-
ation commonly led to lower viscosity. Furthermore, the
influence of heating history on sludge viscosity was found MATERIALS AND METHODS
to be irreversible because the conversion of sludge solids
to dissolved constituents was partially irreversible (Manolia- Sludge samples
dis & Bishop ; Baudez et al. a; Farno et al. ).
During the previous studies on sludge rheological prop- Dewatered sludge used in this study was collected at seven
erties, the object was mostly activated sludge with low solid WWTPs in Kunming City. Samples were sealed in ziplock
content ranging from 0.2 to 6% (Ratkovich et al. ).
W
bags and stored at 4 C in a fridge. All the experiments
were conducted within a week after sludge samples were
Table 1 | Different form of correlation relationships between combinations of shear rate collected. Other information on sludge samples is shown


(γ, s 1), solids concentration (MLSS, mixed liquor suspended solids, g/L) and
temperature (T, K) with apparent viscosity (μ, Pa·s)
in Table 2.

Model Sludge TS (%) References Measurement of sludge viscosity

(aMLSSb ) (cMLSSd )
μ¼e γ 1.6–3.1 Rosenberger et al. ()
0.37–2.29 Laera et al. () Rheological measurements were carried out with a rate-
μ ¼ aMLSSb γ c 0.27–1.02 Yang et al. () controlled viscometer (SNB-2, Nirun, Shanghai, China)
MLSSb 0.27–3.10 Garakani et al. () with Searle system consisting of a rotational spindle and a
μ¼a
γ
0.37–2.29 Laera et al. () beaker (Figure 1). The viscometer is equipped with five
MLSS
μ¼a þ bMLSS þ c different spindles (No. 1–5), which have different measuring
γ 0.27–1.02 Yang et al. ()
μ ¼ aMLSSb T cE 0.27–1.02 Yang et al. () ranges of 6–6,000 mPa, 60–60,000 mPa, 300.3–300,000 mPa,
a
μ ¼ aMLSSb eRgas T 0.27–3.10 Garakani et al. () 1,201.2–1,200,000 mPa and 6,006–6,000,000 mPa·s, respect-
0.27–3.10 Garakani et al. () ively. Conversion factors between shear rate and measuring
MLSSb Rgas
Ea
μ¼a e T speed are 1.224, 0.220, 0.220, 0.214 and 0.209, respectively
γ
Note: In the equations, a, b, c and d are parameters to calibrate, Ea is the activation energy
for the spindles No. 1–5 (shear rates were obtained by mul-
(kJ mol
1), and Rgas is the universal gas constant (8.3145 J K
1 mol
1). tiplying measuring speeds with conversion factors). To get
 1688 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

Table 2 | Characteristics of dewatered sludge from seven WWTPs

Wastewater treatment
No. process Dewatering processd TS (%) VS (%)

1 Oxidation ditch Belt filter press 28–32 36–37

2 A2Oa Belt filter press 19–21 38–43
b
3 ICEAS Belt filter press 18–21 44–49
4 3AMBRc Horizontal spiral 24–25 23–25
centrifuge
5 A2Oa Belt filter press 18–19 39–43
2 a
6 A O Belt filter press 15–16 52–60
7 A2Oa Horizontal spiral 19–20 36–38
centrifuge
a
A2O, anaerobic-anoxic-oxic.
b
ICEAS, intermittent cycle extended aeration system.
c
3AMBR, anoxic anaerobic aerobic - membrane bioreactor.
d
Flocculants were all polyacrylamide (PAM).

accurate results, sludge viscosities were measured with

different spindles so that the measuring value would fall
into 10–90% of the measuring range. Therefore, spindles
No. 1–4 were used to measure sludge with TS 2–4%,
6–7%, 8–9% and 10–15%, respectively. Before measure-
ment, sludge samples were stirred gently at 5 rpm for a
short time in order to ensure the samples were homo-
geneous and avoid irreversible influence on the samples.
Four hundred milliliters of prepared sample was first put
into a 400-mL beaker (with the body diameter of 82 mm),
and the spindle of the viscometer immerged into sludge
samples until the scratch line was just immersed by liquid
level. The measuring speed (the spindle speed) was set as
5–90 rpm. The measuring time was set as 30 s during the
test in order to avoid the inaccurate results derived from
the sedimentation of some particles in sludge suspension. Figure 1 | The rheometer (SNB-2, Nirun, Shanghai, China) with geometrical dimensions of
370 × 325 × 280 mm.

Measurement of sludge rheological behavior

a hysteresis zone, the fluid was time-dependent and defined
To measure the viscosities of the sludge with different solids as a thixotropic fluid; if the downward curve was above the
concentrations, the collected dewatered sludge was first upward curve, the sample was a rheopectic fluid (Schramm
diluted with deionized water to different samples with TS & Zhu ). After these measurements, TS and VS of
2–15%. For a certain sample, the measuring speeds sludge samples were confirmed by gravimetric method.
increased gradually from 5 to 90 rpm and then decreased When measuring sludge viscosity at high temperature, a
gradually to 5 rpm. Thus, two series of viscosity values thin oil layer with known viscosity is usually used to cover
were obtained, which were used to produce an upward sludge samples in order to avoid evaporation (Baudez
curve and a downward curve, respectively. If the viscosity et al. b; Farno et al. ). In this study, the maximum
W
values under different speeds were constant, the sample temperature in the experiments was 55 C and the evapor-
was a Newtonian fluid; if the values were related to the ation effect was negligible during testing time (within 10
shear rates and the downward curve covered the upward min). Hence, an oil cover was not applied. The beakers con-
curve exactly, the sample was a pseudoplastic fluid; if the taining sludge samples were put into a water bath, and
W W W
downward curve was under the upward curve and formed sludge temperatures were controlled at 9 C, 21 C, 35 C
 1689 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

W
and 55 C for 1 h, respectively. These temperatures are repre-
sentative values for local ambient temperature in winter, in
summer, mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion,
respectively.

Analytical procedures

TS and VS were determined according to standard methods

(MEP ).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effects of solid content on sludge rheological behavior

Figure 2 | Relationship between shear rates and viscosities of the sludge with TS 2–15%
(only results for ‘sludge 7’ are shown).
Based on the Ostwald (power law) model (Equation (1)) and
the definition of dynamic viscosity (Equation (2)), the
relationship between apparent viscosity and shear rate can Table 3 | Parameters of the Ostwald model at different sludge TS

be expressed as Equation (3).

TS (%) K (mPa·s) n R2

τ ¼ k  γn (1) 2 182.56 0.536 0.9435

4 3,367.6 0.256 0.9988

μ ¼ τ=γ (2) 6 1,773.2 0.264 0.9926

7 3,235.8 0.222 0.9859
10 18,185 0.160 0.9828
Thus,
13 44,511 0.078 0.9959
15 117,648
0.100 0.9989
μ ¼ k  γ n
1 (3)

where, τ is the shear stress, Pa; k is the flow consistency

index (Pa·sn); μ is the apparent viscosity, Pa·s; n is the flow When sludge solids concentration increased to 4 or 6%,
behavior index. sludge viscosities declined with shear rates, and the upward
According to Equation (3), the variation of sludge visc- and downward curves of sludge viscosity almost overlapped.
osities along with shear rates is described in Figure 2 and This performance was in accordance with the properties of a
the parameters of the upward curve are shown in Table 3. pseudoplastic fluid, which was demonstrated by Rose-Innes
It can be found that the results can be well described by & Nosse (). As shear rates increased, the dramatic drop
the Ostwald model, indicating that the sludge with TS of sludge viscosity may be explained by sludge composition.
2–15% behaved as a pseudoplastic fluid. Sludge with TS 4–6% was still a suspension of irregular par-
It was noted that sludge with TS 2% behaved as a non- ticles. EPS in sludge particles are usually made of organic
Newtonian fluid, just like the previous reports (Rose-Innes polymers with winding or circular molecular chains. These
& Nosse ; Eftekharzadeh et al. ). However, in substances interwove irregularly in an initial state, leading
other experiments using the sludge from other WWTPs, to a relatively high internal resistance against flow motion,
the sludge with TS 2% was sometimes quite fluid and its vis- i.e. a higher viscosity. As the spindle speed increased, the
cosity was relatively stable despite the increase of shear rate. shear rate accordingly rose and sludge particles in the suspen-
This performance was similar to a Newtonian fluid whose sion oriented along the flow direction. Those chain molecules
viscosity is constant with regard to shear rate, or fluctuant combined, stretched and rearranged, which enabled sludge
in a small range according to the measurement condition. particles and molecular groups to slide across each other
This may be ascribed to the difference in sludge particle den- more smoothly. Meanwhile, the shear stress crushed the irre-
sity and organic content. gular groups and then resulted in quicker flow of sludge.
 1690 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

When the shear rate slowed down to zero, chain molecules Effects of solid content on sludge viscosity
were restored to their non-oriented natural position and
became spherical, and sludge aggregations were regained by Considering the variation of n along with sludge TS
Brownian movement. This process was very rapid, so that (Table 3), the relation between them cannot be described
sludge exerted a pseudoplastic property. by any equation in Table 1. It seems that there is a linear
When solids concentration reached 7–15%, sludge flow relation between n and sludge TS, and also between ln(k)
ability declined significantly with an evident increase in vis- and sludge TS (Figure 3). Thus, a new equation was devel-
cosity. Sludge viscosities also declined with increased shear oped from Equation (3).
rates, indicating the shear-thinning property. The feature
was in accordance with pseudoplastic fluid. The downward μ ¼ e(aTSþb)  γ (cTSþd) (4)
curve of sludge viscosity turned out beneath the upward,
and there were two different viscosity values at the same where, a, b, c and d are parameters to calibrate.
shear rate. This meant that sludge viscosity was time-related, According to Equation (4), the relation between ln(μ)
i.e., the sludge was a thixotropic fluid. The initial sludge was and sludge TS at an given shear rate should be linear as in
in gel state or flocculated with a relatively higher viscosity. Equation (5). The sludge samples obtained from the other
With the extension of stirring time, sludge viscosity declined six WWTPs were also measured, and their viscosity data
gradually to a possible minimum value due to the destruction at the shear rate 15 s
1 are shown in Figure 4. The results
of sludge gels or flocs and the regular rearrangement of EPS, show that the sludge with higher solid content had higher
and then the sludge evolved into a colloidal state with lower viscosity. A similar trend was also found at the other shear
viscosity. Simultaneously, sludge particle structure was still rates ranging from 5 to 20 s
1 (the results were not
tending to re-form into the initial state. When the two rates shown). The performance verified an exponential relation-
were equal, a dynamic equilibrium formed, and sludge vis- ship between sludge solids concentration and its viscosity.
cosity reached its minimum value. Thus, sludge with high
solid content exhibited thixotropic characteristics. With ln μ ¼ ða þ c ln γÞTS þ ðb þ d ln γÞ (5)
regard to pseudoplastic fluid, the reconversion of destructed
structure after shear stopped was as rapid as the shear- Using the data obtained from the seven WWTPs, the
thinning effect caused by shear stress. Therefore, the time coefficients in Equation (5) can be calculated by linear
interval was too short to be detected by common equipment. regression. The results and other parameters are shown in
Contrary to a thixotropic fluid, the time for particles’ Table 4. For the seven WWTPs, the relationship between
rearrangement cannot be neglected. sludge viscosity, solids concentration and shear rate can be
Based on the above analyses, sludge rheological property described by Equation (4). There is no significant difference
evolved from Newtonian fluid to pseudoplastic fluid when between the calculated results and the measured data. Thus,
sludge solids concentration increased from lower than the model was satisfactory for the sludge with TS 2–15%.
2–15%. Moreover, the sludge with solids concentration
ranged from 7 to 15% exhibited thixotropic property. When
sludge solids concentration was more than 15%, sludge
behaved like a viscoelastic body, which showed almost no
deformation in a short time. The results in Figure 2 were
deduced using the sludge from No. 7 WWTP, but the
sludge obtained from the other six WWTPs showed similar
performance (the results were not shown). No matter what
kind of fluid, sludge viscosity dropped drastically as shear
rate rose, but began to stabilize at the shear rate of 12–
15 s
1. At this shear rate, the curve stepped into the second
Newtonian region, and sludge viscosity was relatively stable
and almost independent of shear rate. Therefore, sludge visc-
osities at this shear rate were compared in order to analyze
the effects of other variable factors in the following
experiments. Figure 3 | The relation between sludge TS and the coefficients in the Ostwald model.
 1691 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

1
Figure 4 | Effect of sludge TS on viscosities at shear rate 15 s (sludge samples were derived from seven WWTPs).

Table 4 | Parameters for the model describing the relation between sludge viscosity and Effects of temperature on sludge viscosity
solid concentration, shear rate (data refer to Equation (5))

The relationship between sludge viscosity and temperature

WWTP a b c d F(α ¼ 0.05) R2 p*
is shown in Figure 5. On the whole, the viscosity decreased
No. 1 0.24 5.20 0.05
0.80 187 0.910 < 0.01
with the increasing temperature. The result was in
No. 2 0.56 4.38
0.03
0.42 3,909 0.995 < 0.001
No. 3 0.70 2.98
0.07
0.24 1,366 0.987 < 0.001
No. 4 0.21 5.44
0.02
0.50 420 0.965 < 0.05
No. 5 0.57 4.30
0.04
0.36 5,222 0.996 < 0.001
No. 6 0.55 5.36
0.04
0.46 341 0.952 < 0.01
No. 7 0.53 4.41
0.03
0.51 2,045 0.991 < 0.001

*p-values of the four parameters are all less than the given values.

From knowledge of a previous study (Chai & Zhang

), power for stirring is proportional to viscosity when
there is no turbulence. This means that the energy consump-
tion also increased exponentially with sludge TS. According
to the curve, there was a drastic increase of sludge viscosity
when sludge TS increased higher than 8%. Therefore, the
sludge with TS higher than 8% is not recommended in wet
anaerobic digestion processes due to exponentially increas- Figure 5 | Effect of temperature on the viscosities of the sludge with TS 1–12% at shear

1.
ing energy consumption. rate 15 s
 1692 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

accordance with the conclusion obtained by Farno et al.

(). In this study, sludge temperature did not exert an
obvious influence on viscosities of the sludge with TS
1%–3%; viscosities only decreased by 7.36% and 16.75%
W W
when the temperature rose from 9 C to 55 C, respectively;
while for the sludge with TS 6%, 8%, 10% and 12%, viscos-
ities decreased by 36.54%, 49.55%, 53.97% and 65.44%,
W
respectively, when the temperature rose from 9 to 55 C.
This meant the sludge with high solid content was more
easily influenced by temperature. This can also be explained
by the variation of EPS content in the suspension (Rosen-
berger et al. ). When sludge solids concentration was
low, EPS in the surface layer of different sludge particles
had a very low binding degree, and the connected structures
were very loose even if these polymers bound. Therefore, Figure 6 | Effect of VS contents on the viscosities of the sludge with TS 2–12% at shear


sludge temperature had almost no influence on its viscosity, rate 15 s 1.

though the shape or form of organic macromolecules

evolved with the changed temperature. While sludge solids However, sludge organic content exerted a great influence
concentration was high, there was more tendency to lining on the viscosity of the sludge with high solid concentration.
or binding of those organic macromolecules in sludge sus- In high-solids sludge, the distance between particles nar-
pension, leading to a bigger friction resistance; thus sludge rowed drastically and the organic polymers in the surface
viscosity dropped. Hence, anaerobic digestion of high- layer of different particles formed a linear or network struc-
solids sludge should be operated under mesophilic or ther- ture. This change enlarged the friction resistance, and
mophilic conditions, and thermal pretreatment is also thereby the influence of sludge organic content was more
beneficial from the view of sludge viscosity. significant.
Certainly, sludge characteristics are not only judged by its
Effects of sludge composition on sludge viscosity organic content, and other factors, e.g. organic compositions,
EPS contents and residual flocculants, also impact sludge
The sludge samples collected from the seven different viscosities. Since the sludge samples here were collected
WWTPs had different organic contents (VS/TS), which poss- from seven different WWTPs, their characteristics were differ-
ibly impacted sludge viscosity. It was found that sludge ent and the measured viscosities were not only determined by
viscosities increased exponentially along with increased VS their organic content. However, the results verified that
contents (Figure 6), and a similar relation was also found at sludge VS can be taken as a rough indicator of sludge vis-
the other shear rates ranging from 5 to 20 s
1 (the results cosity. In general, sludge with higher organic content
were not shown). In general, sludge with higher VS had should be more viscous. This deduction is convenient when
more EPS, which can enhance the connection of sludge par- viscometers are unavailable or accurate viscosities are
ticles. Therefore, higher organic content led to higher unnecessary. Accordingly, the high-solids sludge with high
viscosity in the suspension with high solid concentration. organic content needs a considerable increase in energy con-
For the sludges with TS 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12%, sumption for transport and stirring during further treatment
their viscosities increased 2.7, 3.7, 5.0, 9.1, 25.7 and 24.9 processes. Thus, when sludge is concentrated, the sludge
times, respectively, when sludge VS content increased with high organic content gains more increase in viscosity
from 28 to 56%. The influence of VS content on sludge vis- than that with low organic content.
cosity was minor at sludge TS of 2%. This was partially
caused by scattered particles in the thin fluid. The distance
between the particles was far enough that the resistance CONCLUSION
that the viscometer suffered was mainly derived from the
intercept of the particles. The shape or form of the particles Sludge with solid content ranging from 2 to 15% was a pseu-
did not exert great influence. Therefore, sludge VS content doplastic fluid, and it exhibited thixotropic property when
was not the main factor impacting sludge viscosity. solid content was higher than 7%. For the high-solids
 1693 Y. Cheng & H. Li | Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content Water Science & Technology | 71.11 | 2015

sludge, the relation between viscosity and shear rate can be Farno, E., Baudez, J. C., Parthasarathy, R. & Eshtiaghi, N. 
described by the power law model, while the relation Rheological characterization of thermally-treated anaerobic
digested sludge: impact of temperature and thermal history.
between viscosity and solid content can be expressed as an
Water Research 56 (1), 156–161.
exponential model. A complex model can describe their Garakani, A. H. K., Mostoufi, N., Sadeghi, F., Hosseinzadeh, M.,
relation well. Sludge organic content exerted little influence Fatourechi, H., Sarrafzadeh, M. H. & Mehrnia, M. R. 
on the sludge with TS 2%, but for high-solids sludge, high Comparison between different models for rheological
organic content resulted in high viscosity. Similarly, for characterization of activated sludge. Iranian Journal of
high-solids sludge, the effect of temperature on sludge vis- Environmental Health Science & Engineering 8 (3), 255–264.
Gupta, R. K., Eshtiaghi, N. & Slatter, P.  The viscoelastic
cosity was more significant, and sludge viscosity dropped
behavior of raw and anaerobic digested sludge: strong
with an increased temperature. similarities with soft-glassy materials. Water Research 47 (1),
173–180.
Kirby, J. M.  Rheological characteristics of sewage sludge: a
granuloviscous material. Rheological Acta 27 (3), 326–334.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Laera, G., Giordano, C., Pollice, A., Saturno, D. & Mininni, G.
 Membrane bioreactor sludge rheology at different solid
Financial support for this project was obtained from the retention times. Water Research 41 (18), 4197–4203.
China Major Science and Technology Program for Water Manoliadis, O. & Bishop, P. L.  Temperature effect on
Pollution Control and Treatment (No. 2011ZX07302), the rheology of sludges. Journal of Environmental Engineering
Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51478239), 110 (1), 286–290.
Ministry of Environmental Protection, China (MEP) 
Shenzhen Science and Technology Research and Develop-
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
ment Fund (No. JSGG20130918153404812), and the Joint Wastewater, 4th edn, MEP, Beijing, China.
Research Center of Urban Resource Recycling Technology Mohapatra, D. P., Brar, S. K., Tyagi, R. D., Picard, P. & Surampalli,
of Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University and R. Y.  Ferro-sonication and partial ozonation pre-
Shenzhen Green Eco-Manufacturer High-Tech Co. Ltd treatment and biotransformation of wastewater sludge for
degradation of bisphenol A: rheology studies. Chemical
(No. URRT2013005).
Engineering Science 81, 20–27.
Pollice, A., Giordano, C., Laera, G., Saturno, D. & Mininni, G.
 Rheology of sludge in a complete retention membrane
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First received 25 December 2014; accepted in revised form 18 March 2015. Available online 31 March 2015

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