ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADABILITY ENHANCEMENT OF MEAT PROCESSING WASTEWATER SLUDGE BY FENTON PROCESS

In this study, an advanced oxidation process of Fenton Process was applied to meat prosessing wastewater sludge for the purpose of sludge disintegration before anaerobic digestion. Fenton Process was applied to the meat processing wastewater sludge samples were taken from a treatment plant located in Denizli, Turkey. In the first stage of the study, experiments were carried out to optimize the process conditions in terms of disintegration using Box-Wilson Statistical Design. Ferrous iron and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were chosen as process variable and disintegration degree parameter based on soluble chemical oxygen demand calculations used as process response. 13% of disintegration degree was obtained at 90 gH2O2/ kg Dried Solids and 3 g Fe(III)/kg Dried Solids. After optimization studies for disintegration, sludge digestion studies were carried out using Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) Test. BMP test results showed that Fenton Process can be used as a sludge disintegration purpose and application of Fenton Process before anaerobic digestion causes 33% higher methane gas production comparing the non-pretreated sludge.