Conversion of textile industry effluent treatment plant sludge into a valuable organic fertilizer using Delta-D technology

Abstract

Sludge generated in Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in industrial zones consisting of textile manufacturing, dying, finishing and garment washing has to be disposed of by the manufacturers. The current practice in Sri Lanka is to dispose the sludge by transporting it to a cement plant and incinerate it in a rotary kiln at a temperature lf around 1500°C. This is a costly solution due to the high transportation cost and rotary kiln incineration charges. At the request of a CETP owned and operated by a highly reputed company in Sri Lanka, research was carried out to convert CETP sludge into a nutrient rich, slow releasing, and organic rich fertilizer by rapid digestion of the CETP sludge using Delta-D technology. Delta-D Technology is a patented process invented by Prof. S.A.S. Perera, Professor in Chemical and Process Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Based on test results, it can be concluded that the final product is acceptable as an organic fertilizer and the conversion process could be implemented as a cheap and sustainable solution to the disposal of CETP sludge.