Abstract
Decarbonizing biosolids management is essential for improving the energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of modern water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). This presentation highlights an ongoing California Energy Commission (CEC)-funded demonstration project at the Linda County WRRF, California, evaluating next-generation biosolids thickening and destruction processes under full-scale operating conditions following both conventional and advanced primary treatment technologies (i.e., Primary Clarification and Primary Filtration). This long-term comparative demonstration integrates pilot- and full-scale systems operated continuously for 12–24 months with comprehensive SCADA-based monitoring, process optimization, and performance assessment.
The project compares innovative and conventional biosolids management technologies by evaluating thickening efficiency, hydraulic and solids loading capacity, chemical and energy consumption, operational reliability, maintenance requirements, filtrate or centrate quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and lifecycle performance. Process robustness is assessed using multiple sludge streams, including primary sludge from the clarifier, return activated sludge, and backwash solids from advanced primary filtration technologies. Suspended Air Flotation and the Biosolids Filtration Thickener are benchmarked against a conventional Volute Thickener, with the thickened solids subsequently processed using Ultra-Supercritical Water Oxidation for biosolids destruction and energy recovery as a potential alternative to conventional anaerobic digestion. The project will provide utilities with performance benchmarks and data-driven guidance to reduce energy and chemical consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, hauling and disposal requirements, and facility footprint while advancing sustainable biosolids management.