Reduction of emerging pollutants in sewage sludge by anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting
With the expansion of urban sewage treatment scale,the production of municipal sludge increased,and the detection rate of emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products(PPCPs),biological pollutants,microplastics(MPs)and estrogen in sludge also showed an increasing trend.The two sludge recycling methods,anaerobic digestion of sludge to produce biogas and aerobic composting to produce soil conditioner,have multiple effects of reducing pollutants,recovering valuable components and reducing environmental risks.However,the effect of reducing emerging pollutants in sludge is still unclear.Taking the four emerging pollutants mentioned above as examples,their existing conditions in urban sludge in different countries were compared,and the reduction effects and existing problems of emerging pollutants in sludge by anaerobic digestion,aerobic composting,combined treatment of anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting,as well as physical and chemical measures were summarized.In view of the coexistence of many emerging pollutants in sludge,it was suggested that the removal technology for many emerging pollutants should be developed in the future,and the research on the reduction mechanism of emerging pollutants should be strengthened in order to ensure the safe utilization of sewage sludge.