Drying of sludge in a greenhouse and its agronomic valorization in Uruguay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65628/V3.N1.18Keywords:
Circular economy, Waste management, Environmental sustainabilityAbstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the solar drying process of sludge generated by a wastewater treatment plant at a food industry in Uruguay and to analyze its potential for agronomic valorization. Experiments were conducted during the winter period in a 3 m² greenhouse, using sludge layers 5, 10, and 15 cm thick, with weekly monitoring of their moisture content. The sludge initially had a moisture content of 83% (w.b.) and, after the drying process, reached final values of 8% (30 days), 6% (60 days), and 54% (60 days) for the 5, 10, and 15 cm layers, respectively. The dried sludge, with 8% moisture content, was analyzed for agronomic valorization, determining the concentration of heavy metals and fecal coliforms. Regarding fecal coliforms, in addition to complying with Uruguayan regulations for agricultural use, the extent to which solar drying reduced their concentration was evaluated, achieving a 96% reduction. Likewise, the heavy metal concentrations also comply with the regulations established for agricultural use. This study highlights solar drying as an economical and sustainable technology that optimizes sludge management, integrating circular economy principles and promoting its valorization as a resource for agricultural applications.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kelly Andressa Liesenfeld, Marcelo Coleto Rola, Vitória Olave de Freitas (Author)
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