https://doi.org/10.25678/0006FP

Data for: Elucidating the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in dewaterability of fecal sludge from onsite sanitation systems, and changes during anaerobic storage

As the importance of fecal sludge management (FSM) is increasingly being realized, the need for adequately designed and functioning fecal sludge (FS) treatment plants is also increasing. Research to fill this gap is only emerging and dewatering is a key challenge for developing sustainable treatment solutions. This study evaluated the effect of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on dewaterability of FS, and how EPS and dewaterability change during anaerobic storage (as a proxy for time in onsite containment). EPS was extracted from FS and activated sludge using Na2CO3 and sonication and added to sludge samples to determine the effect on dewaterability. The results confirmed that an increase in EPS had a direct impact of decreasing FS dewaterability (as capillary suction time). In this context, we evaluated FS degradation during anaerobic storage, the effect of anaerobic storage time on EPS, EPS fractions and particle size distribution, and the effect of variations in these factors on FS dewaterability. Variations in EPS, EPS fraction and particle size distribution during anaerobic storage were less than expected and average VS reduction of 20 % was recorded over 7 weeks. Although anaerobic digestion was verified (biogas production), the results indicate that kinetics of degradation of FS is different from wastewater sludges. Comparatively, EPS fractions in FS were 70 – 75 % lower and with higher fractions of humic-like substances than wastewater sludges. Although EPS significantly affects FS dewaterability, anaerobic storage time is not a predictor of dewaterability.

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This Data Package

Sam, S., Ward, B. J., Niederdorfer, R., Morgenroth, E., & Strande, L. (2022). Data for: Elucidating the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in dewaterability of fecal sludge from onsite sanitation systems, and changes during anaerobic storage (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.25678/0006FP

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The associated article

Sam, S. B., Ward, B. J., Niederdorfer, R., Morgenroth, E., & Strande, L. (2022). Elucidating the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in dewaterability of fecal sludge from onsite sanitation systems, and changes during anaerobic storage. Water Research, 222, 118915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118915

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Long-term data

Author	Sam, Stanley Ward, Barbara Jeanne Niederdorfer, Robert Morgenroth, Eberhard Strande, Linda
Keywords	Blackwater,sludge filtration,biomethane potential test,microbial community analysis
Variables	alkalinity ammonium-nitrogen capillary_suction_time chemical_oxygen_demand none temperature total_solids turbidity volatile_solids
Substances (scientific names)	TS, TSS, VSS, COD, NH4+-N, TN
Substances (generic terms)	Extracellular polymeric substances, protein-like substances, humic-like substances
Systems	anaerobic batch reactors laboratory
Timerange	2018 TO 2021
Review Level	none
Curator	Sam, Stanley
Contact	Strande, Linda <linda.strande@eawag.ch>