A review on the recent advances in electrochemical treatment technologies for sludge dewatering and alternative uses

Municipal wastewater treatment plants generate enormous quantities of sludge as a byproduct, which not only contains a significant amount of water and harmful pathogens but also serves as a repository for a variety of essential materials and nutrients. The recovery of water and other valuable substances is highly dependent on the employed treatment methods. In recent years, electrochemical processes have attracted a great deal of interest as an efficient technique for sludge dewatering and resource recovery. By separating free and bound water from the sludge matrix, electro-dewatering can substantially reduce the volume of sludge, making it a more cost effective and sustainable method of sludge management. Furthermore, the resulting sludge cake is more manageable and transportable, making it a viable option for further disposal or resource recovery. By considering the beneficial aspects of sludge electro-dewatering, this paper aims to critically review the mechanism underlying electrochemical methods of sludge dewatering as well as modified development strategies for scal-up potentials.