Applying Nuclear Techniques to Improve Sewage Sludge Characteristics

Irradiation of sewage sludge is a very important process to eliminate all types of microorganisms and to improve its characteristics, after the irradiation process sewage sludge will have a very good ecological, economic and agricultural value where it can be used safely as a fertilizer because of its nutrient value. Sewage samples were brought from Alhadba Alkhadra wastewater treatment plant in Tripoli and the following microorganisms were isolated: E.coli, Klebsiella, Campylobacter jejune, Bacillus sp., Yeast, Fungi. Samples were then divided into seven groups and received different doses ranged between 0.5 and 3 kGy with an increment of 0.5, one sample was kept as a control sample. The effect of the ionizing radiation was noticed as yeast and fungi disappeared after receiving a dose of 0.5 kGy where as E.Coli and Campylobacter jejune needed a dose of 1 kGy to be eliminated from sludge, a dose of 1.5 kGy was enough for Klebsiella pneumonia, Finally a dose of 3 kGy was needed to clear off the Bacillus sp. bacteria. Ph and E.C. were recorded before and after the irradiation process with no changes.