Page 32 - Wastewater Solids Incineration Systems

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.0 THE CARBON CYCLE 2 4.0 ECONOMIC ISSUES 5
2.0 PUBLIC RELATIONS 3 5.0 USE OF THE MANUAL 5

3.0 EMISSIONS: COMPARISON 6.0 REFERENCES 6
AND PERSPECTIVE 4
7.0 SUGGESTED READING 6

Interest in incineration as a reliable and cost-effective method of solids handling has
grown for several reasons, including

• Approximately 95% reduction in volume and 70% reduction in weight of
solids, which greatly reduces transportation requirements.

• Complete destruction of pathogens, viruses, and organic compounds in solids.
• Potential for heat energy recovery for autogenous combustion and process
use, building heating, or power generation.
• Decreasing public acceptance of biosolids land application in some locations.
• Increasing complexity of treatment processes to produce Class A biosolids for
land application.

Although facilities have practiced incineration since the early 1900s, in the last
few decades they have focused on land application and reuse of biosolids to take
advantage of its nutrient value. New regulations were also discussed that might have
precluded incineration as a management option, including

• Federal regulations (Title 40 Part 503 of the Code of Federal Regulations) cover
operating and monitoring of the biosolids program. The regulations provide risk-
based guidelines and establish limits for total hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide,
concentration, and overall process removal efficiencies of various metals.
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