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Sludge transportation costs can represent a large fraction of the expenses associated with municipal and faecal sludge management. These costs can be mitigated through the use of thermal drying approaches to reduce the sludge volume. This thesis described the application of a novel microwave-based pilot-scale unit as an alternative technology for the sanitisation and drying of sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants and on-site sanitation facilities. The potential economic benefits of volumetric heating, moisture levelling, and increased liquid and vapour migration from the interior to the surface of the product underpins the increasing interest in the use of microwave technology during sludge treatment processes. According to the findings of this study, these factors lead to faster processing times, improved drying rates, and a reduced physical footprint. Furthermore, microwave technology operates as a standalone treatment unit. When coupled with mechanical dewatering techniques and membrane separation technology, it can increase the reliability of the technology employed in the treatment of sludge while recovering valuable resources through an agricultural or thermochemical application such as (co-) combustion. The results of this work demonstrate the strong feasibility of applying microwave-based technology within initiatives designed to protect the environment and safeguard public health.

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9781032217994

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Eva Kocbek completed her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maribor, Slovenia, specializing in Energy, Process, and Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she gained valuable practical experience in engineering and designing solutions for drinking applications with specialized water and wastewater company in Slovenia. To extend her working knowledge and understanding of water and sanitation, she later completed a Master of Water Engineering at the UNESCO-IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands. Driven by research and innovations, she started her doctoral research as part of a joint program at the Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Science, Department of Biotechnology, and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (formerly known as UNESCO-IHE), Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology. Her research project was developed and funded within the framework of the Programmatic Cooperation Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IHE Delft (DUPC2) initiative. The underlying goal of the study was to develop a portable microwave-based treatment system for on-site faecal sludge management for the humanitarian and development WASH sector. She is currently working in the field of research, design, and operation of systems to address issues in the area of i) drinking water preparations, ii) the provision of ultra-pure water for dialysis centres, process water, and iii) sludge treatment.

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