Sodium thiosulphate induced immobilized bacterial disintegration of sludge: An energy efficient and cost effective platform for sludge management and biomethanation

U Ushani; S Kavitha; R Yukesh Kannah; M Gunasekaran; Gopalakrishnan Kumar; Dinh Duc Nguyen; Soon Woong Chang; J Rajesh Banu

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.118

Sodium thiosulphate induced immobilized bacterial disintegration of sludge: An energy efficient and cost effective platform for sludge management and biomethanation

Bioresour Technol. 2018 Jul:260:273-282. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.118. Epub 2018 Mar 31.

Authors

U Ushani¹, S Kavitha², R Yukesh Kannah², M Gunasekaran³, Gopalakrishnan Kumar⁴, Dinh Duc Nguyen⁵, Soon Woong Chang⁵, J Rajesh Banu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (KAHE), Pollache Main Road, Eachanari Post, Coimbatore, India.
² Department of Civil Engineering, Regional Campus, Anna University, Tirunelveli, India.
³ Department of Physics, Regional Campus, Anna University, Tirunelveli, India.
⁴ School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Civil Engineering, Regional Campus, Anna University, Tirunelveli, India. Electronic address: rajeshces@gmail.com.

PMID: 29631177
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.118

Abstract

The present study aimed to gain better insights into profitable biomethanation through sodium thiosulphate induced immobilized protease secreting bacterial disintegration (STS-IPBD) of sludge. STS disperse the flocs at 0.08 g/g SS of dosage and assists the subsequent bacterial disintegration. Immobilization of bacteria increases the hydrolytic activity of cells towards effective liquefaction of sludge. A higher liquefaction of 22% was accomplished for STS-IPBD when compared to immobilized protease secreting bacterial disintegration (IPBD alone). The kinetic parameters of Line Weaver Burk plot analysis revealed a maximal specific growth rate (µmax) of 0.320 h^-1 for immobilized cells when compared to suspended free cells showing the benefit of immobilization. Floc dispersion and immobilization of bacteria imparts a major role in biomethanation as the methane generation (0.32 gCOD/g COD) was higher in STS-IPBD sample. The cost analysis showed that STS - IPBD was a feasible process with net profit of 2.6 USD/Ton of sludge.

Keywords: Biomethanation; Cost benefit analysis; Floc dispersion; Immobilized bacterial disintegration; Liquefaction.

MeSH terms

Biodegradation, Environmental*
Methane
Sewage*
Thiosulfates
Waste Disposal, Fluid

Substances

Sewage
Thiosulfates
sodium thiosulfate
Methane