Mrs.drs. H.J.H. (Hellen) Elissen: "From waste sludge to worms"

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18 Dec 2007 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr.ir. W.H. Rulkens (Environmental Technology)
Co Promotor: Dr.ir. A. Klapwijk

 During the treatment of sewage, large amounts of waste sludge are produced. Due to elevated levels of heavy metals, it is no longer allowed to be used in agriculture in the Netherlands. Current sludge processing, usually by burning, is expensive. This PhD thesis describes a biological technology for reducing the amount of sludge by aquatic worms. The growth of investigated smaller species seems to be uncontrollable and their application therefore too complicated. However, the larger species Lumbriculus variegatus accelerates sludge breakdown with a factor 2 and displays stable growth by division. Besides, the sludge becomes much more compact and worm biomass can be harvested and re-used (for example as aquarium fish food) as most heavy metals are not taken up. A prototype for a worm reactor showed promising but fluctuating results. Therefore, further research is needed on the feasibility of the technique at full scale.

Title thesis: "Sludge reduction by aquatic worms in wastewater treatment with emphasis on the potential application of Lumbriculus variegatus"
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