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Gamma Irradiation of Municipal Sludge for Safe Disposal and Agricultural Use
Author(s) -
Gautam Satyendra,
Shah Mahesh R.,
Sabharwal Sunil,
Sharma Arun
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143005x67386
Subject(s) - environmental science , waste management , wastewater , fecal coliform , manure , sewage treatment , environmental engineering , sewage sludge treatment , sludge bulking , settling , pulp and paper industry , activated sludge , agronomy , water quality , engineering , biology , ecology
Gamma radiation was found to be an effective tool for hygienization of municipal wastewater sludge. The sludge received from the primary settling tank of a municipal wastewater treatment plant was gamma irradiated using a cobalt‐60 source in a sludge hygienization research irradiator. The process parameters were adjusted to effectively eliminate coliform bacteria in the sludge and to prevent their regrowth. Irradiated sludge was found to be free of fecal coliform and could be directly disposed after drying in a landfill or used as manure. It could also be used as a medium for growth of Rhizobium sp for obtaining a bio‐fertilizer.