Electro-osmotic dewatering (EOD) of bio-materials

Abstract

In practical application of electro-osmotic dewatering (EOD), it is very important to increase the dewatering rate, and to decrease the final water content and the electric power consumption for water removal. In a batch apparatus for dewatering operation of colloidal suspensions or sludges, electric power applications, such as alternating current (AC) electric field and interrupted or intermittent electric field, and also arrangements and configurations of the electrode in contact with the suspension or sludge can be available for improving the performance of electro-osmotic dewatering. The effects of these electric field applications and the electrode arrangements and configurations on the dewatering processes are shown, and the usage of electro-osmotic dewatering is focused to biomaterials such as sewage/activated sludge, waterworks sludge, food processing products and wastes, and biomass sludge.