Question

Explain the role of the anaerobic sludge digester during the sewage treatment.

Answer 1

Anaerobic sludge digestion is a biological process used in sewage treatment to degrade organic particles in sludge, creating biogas and stabilising the sludge for future disposal. In the anaerobic digester, bacteria that develop anaerobically consume the bacteria and fungi in the sludge. During this digestion, bacteria emit a combination of gases, including methane, hydrogen sulphide, and carbon dioxide. These gases combine to generate biogas, which can then be used as an energy source.