污水污泥作为肥料的应用可以有利于可持续农业,因为它可以在很大程度上解决作物对氮和磷的需求,并且与其他处置途径相比成本更低。例如,焚化,和卫生垃圾填埋场。本研究评估了非粮食作物污水污泥中试造粒的可行性(例如,观赏植物)。通过以9:1的污泥与淀粉的重量比混合污水污泥和粘合剂(木薯淀粉)来设计共造粒方法。氮(N)的量,磷(P),所得颗粒的钾(K)测定为5.7%,4.9%,和0.2%,分别。遵循马来西亚和美国的标准,颗粒污泥的非必要元素和致病性被测量到低于预定限值,因此对于农业应用是安全的。使用50%无机肥料50%污水污泥颗粒的种植试验对开花植物Celosiaplumosa的生长表现出了有希望的结果,具有更好的尺寸和颜色,身高高20%,4%以上的叶绿素含量,更多54%的叶子,茎生长增加43%,与对照相比,花增加了27%。同样,万寿菊的种植试验导致10.5%的叶片变宽,10.6%更重的叶片干重,与充分利用无机肥料的对照相比,叶绿素含量增加了12.5%。通过考虑流动性来运营生产设施,经济分析估计,每吨颗粒状污水污泥的生产成本为0.98美元。
Application of sewage sludge as fertilizer can be beneficial for sustainable agriculture as it could largely account for nitrogen and phosphorus demand for crops and has lower costs compared to other disposal routes, e.g., incineration, and sanitary landfills. This study evaluates the feasibility of pilot-scale pelletization of sewage sludge for non-food crops (e.g., ornamental plants). The co-pelletization method was designed by mixing sewage sludge and binder (tapioca starch) at a 9:1 sludge-to-starch weight ratio. The amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the resultant pellets were determined at 5.7%, 4.9%, and 0.2%, respectively. Following Malaysian and US Standards, non-essential elements and pathogenicity of the pelletized sewage sludge were measured below the predetermined limits and hence safe for agricultural application. The planting trial using 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% sewage sludge pellets exhibited a promising result on the growth of the flowering plant Celosia plumosa, with having better dimension and color, 20% higher in height, 4% more chlorophyll content, 54% more leaf, 43% greater stem growth, and 27% more flowers compared to control. Likewise, the planting trial on Tagetes erecta resulted in 10.5% wider leaf, 10.6% heavier leaf dry weight, and 12.5% more chlorophyll content compared to control with full usage of inorganic fertilizer. By considering liquidities to operate the production facility, the economic analysis estimated that the production cost per ton of pelletized sewage sludge produced was USD 0.98.