The use of treatment sludge in agriculture is the most appropriate technique that fits the modern reuse concept. If it is to be used as a medium to grow edible plants, the sludge must be treated by certain preliminary processes to remove all the hygienic risks and must be transformed into the suitable biosolid form that can be easily applied to the field. Even though the operating costs of these processes are a function of the special conditions of the plant, these issues could sometimes make the economic operability of the plant a challenging task.

On the other hand, sludge that is transformed into biosolid form via lime stabilization could be used as a fertilizer in growing canola like oily seeded plants. The vegetable oil that is extracted from these plants could then be used in the production of an environmentally-friendly and renewable energy resource: the biodiesel.

Another interesting part of this application lies in the fact that the municipal transportation vehicles can use biodiesel added fuel creating another environmentally-friendly application in their agenda.

SLUDGERGY Flow Chart - Piriştina Cycle

Treatment plants remove the dissolved pollutants in wastewaters by converting them into sludge. In this regard, the anxieties associated with wastewaters are replaced by the anxieties related to sludge. The treatment plants, hence, do not solve the problem completely but only transform it to a different format.

Despite using processes like composting, digestion, dewatering and drying that not only have high costs but also don't involve a definite solution, the wastewater treatment sludge could be utilized as a suitable agricultural soil consistent with the needs of the plant to be cultivated. With appropriate planting, maintenance and harvesting practices, production of oily seeds like canola and sunflower could be realized. In the production of the plant, required information transfer and necessary educational studies must be performed with the farmers and the oily seed production cycle will be completed.

Oil extraction from seeds will be demonstrated in the pilot plant. The extracted oil will then be used as a raw material in producing suitable quality biodiesel that is licensed and certified and follows all the required standards.

The stages in transesterification method, control experiments of the production method and the analysis of the final product will be demonstrated as an application.

Upon completion of the required engine tests of biodiesel, the fuel will be used in public transport vehicles and the final end user will be informed from the benefits of biodiesel.

www.sludgergy.com