Improving sewage sludge dewaterability via heterogeneous activation of persulfate by Fe-Al layered double hydroxide: Role of generated SO₄^-?

In this study, Fe-Al layered double hydroxide (Fe-Al LDH) was prepared and applied to activate persulfate to condition sewage sludge and improve its dewaterability. The results showed that Fe-Al LDH activated persulfate to generate a large amount of free radicals, which attacked extracellular polymeric substances and reduced their content, disrupted microbial cells, released bound water, decreased sludge particle size, increased sludge zeta potential, and improved sludge dewaterability. After sewage sludge was conditioned with Fe-Al LDH (0.20 g/g total solids (TS)) and persulfate (0.10 g/g TS) for 30 min, the capillary suction time of the sludge dropped from 52.0 s to 16.3 s, while the moisture content of the sludge cake decreased from 93.2% to 68.5%. The dominant active free radical produced by the Fe-Al LDH-activated persulfate was SO4-center dot. The maximum Fe3+ leaching of the conditioned sludge was only 102.67 +/- 4.45 mg/L, thus effectively alleviating the secondary pollution of Fe3+. The leaching rate of 2.37% was significantly lower than that of the sludge homogeneously activated with Fe2+ (738.4 +/- 26.07 mg/L and 71.00%).