Effect of heat on pathogenic organisms found in wastewater sludge

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7298074

Ward, R L; Brandon, J R

To overcome the biological risk associated with sewage sludge utilization as a soil conditioner, fertilizer, or food-supplement for animals low-cost methods are being sought which can be used to efficiently inactivate pathogenic organisms in sludge. One possible method that is being carefully examined at Sandia Laboratories is treatment with large doses of ionizing radiation. The economic feasibility of this procedure depends on the availability of large amounts of cesium-137 found in nuclear wastes. Initial experiments suggest that pathogenic bacteria and parasites can be effectively inactivated in sludge by exposure to this ..gamma.. source. However, viruses are intrinsically radiation resistant and very large doses of ionizing radiation are required for their inactivation in sludge. Another means of inactivating pathogens in sludge is with heat. Because viruses are thought to be particularly labile at high temperatures, heat treatment should be especially effective against this class of pathogens. Therefore, this treatment is being considered as a possible add-on to radiation treatment and, accordingly, studies on heat inactivation of enteric viruses, bacteria, and parasites are under way. Some of the findings are reported.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 7298074
• Report Number(s): SAND-77-1338C; CONF-770838-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
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& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
560130* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
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BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
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DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ECONOMY
FERTILIZERS
FOOD
GAMMA SOURCES
HEAT TREATMENTS
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MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PARASITES
PROCESSING
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOSTERILIZATION
SEWAGE
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SYNERGISM
VIRUSES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES