Environment & Community

Enzymic Hydrolysis (LIFE project)

The project's overall aim is to demonstrate that High Rate Enzyme Hydrolysis is the safest and most efficient means of treating sewage sludge for agricultural recycling.

Implementation of the EC Directive on Urban Wastewater Treatment, with its stricter requirements for managing wastewater, has led to a dramatic increase in the production of sewage sludge throughout Europe in the past 15 years. Compared to a mere 5.5 million tonnes in 1992, nearly 9 million tonnes of dry matter was produced in 2005. This figure will continue to grow as the number of households connected to sewers increases and new sewage treatment works are built.

Current sewage sludge treatment technologies are either inefficient or polluting, and managing its continuously growing supply is a major problem in the EU, especially in the new Member States.

The UK produces 1.2 million tonnes sludge pa. Disposing of this large volume is problematic.  DEFRA has recognised that agricultural recycling with energy recovery is the Best Practical Environmental Option (BPEO).

Project background

Enzymic Hydrolysis Technology is a novel development by United Utilities. It is designed to make agricultural recycling of sludge more sustainable. The technology also has the potential to treat other organic materials such as Municipal Solid Wastes.

The Enzymic Hydrolysis process is based on an entirely natural microbial cycle. It harnesses the actions of a series of bacteria to accelerate the mineralization process of complex organic matter to return nutrients to the soil and destroy harmful pathogens at the same time. Methane is given off as a by-product that provides all the energy need for the process and more for export. Proven in full-scale operation by United Utilities, now Standard Engineered Modular plants are available making access to this technology both simple and economical.

This project is being carried out in conjunction with LIFE. LIFE is the Financial Instrument for the Environment, introduced in 1992, and is one of the spearheads of the European Union's environmental policy.

Project objectives

The project's overall aim is to demonstrate that "High Rate Enzyme Hydrolysis" is the safest and most efficient means of treating sewage sludge for agricultural recycling. The soil conditioner or fertilizer resulting from the process is expected to exceed the strictest current and predicted European safety standards. The project will also demonstrate that the Enzyme Hydrolysis technology can easily be retrofitted to existing wastewater treatment plants.

Project partners

AnoxKaldnes, Sweden - a high technology company focusing on biological wastewater treatment

For more information contact :

So Lee
T:01925 537269

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