Irradiation of sewage sludge using cesium-137: a comparative assessment

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5171472

Irradiation using /sup 137/CS is a recently developed process for disinfecting sewage sludge before applying it to the land. Irradiation, composting, and heat drying are Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP) when operated to meet the guidelines set forth under Title 40, Code of the Federal Register, Part 257 (40 CFR 257). This report identifies and develops technical, operational, and environmental considerations for sludge handling systems incorporating these PFRP to determine the economic advantages of each process. The results indicate that sludge irradiation systems are cost-competitive with composting and heat drying systems for wastewater treatment plants with or without existing anaerobic digesters. Irradiation can thus be considered for new as well as upgrading existing facilities for sludge disinfection. An attractive aspect of the irradiation process is that significantly less conventional energy is used for operation when compared to composting and heat drying. In the final analysis, however, the applicability and desirability of any process is best determined by more evaluations specific to a given community.

• Research Organization: CH2M Hill Central, Inc., Boise, ID (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5171472
• Report Number(s): SAND-80-7097; TRN: 80-015176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
CESIUM 137
USES
IRRADIATION PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
RADIODISINFESTATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECONOMICS
OPERATION
RADIATION SOURCES
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DISINFESTATION
ISOTOPES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEWAGE
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
070204* - Radiation Sources- Industrial Uses
Radiometric