Journal article
Formation mechanisms and mechanical properties of anaerobic lagoon scum
V Bobade, T Das, SP Usher, D McMurrich, AD Stickland, N Eshtiaghi
Science of the Total Environment | ELSEVIER | Published : 2022
Abstract
The formation of a floating scum layer on the liquid surface of covered anaerobic lagoons prevents optimal and efficient lagoon operation. Scum can reduce hydraulic retention time, inhibit biogas capture and cause damage to lagoon covers. Managing the negative impact of scum requires understanding what scum is, how it forms and how it consolidates. This paper presents measurements of the physical and mechanical properties of scum and sludge samples from two covered anaerobic lagoons that alternatively treat municipal and abattoir waste. Both scum samples consisted of a large proportion of suspended solids that sank once the sample was diluted, degassed and mixed, indicating that sludge flota..
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Awarded by Australian Government
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP170100257, Biosolid flow, separation and activity in anaerobic lagoons. Veena Bobade acknowledges the financial support through the Australian Postgraduate Researcher Internship scheme. Tanmoy Das' scholarship is funded through LP170100257 in addition to an RMIT University scholarship. The authors also acknowledge RMIT University and The University of Melbourne for providing lab space and equipment, and personnel of Lagoon A and Lagoon B for providing the scum and sludge samples and Peter Wardrop for providing sludge samples from anaerobic digestion pilot plant representing Lagoon A sludge.