Characterizing and Assessing Drinking Water Treatment Plant Sludges as a Soil Stabilizer in Trabzon, Türkiye

Abstract

Resources used with the increasing population and developing industry and related wastes are also increasing rapidly. The conscious use of the environment and natural resources for future generations, and the waste products resulting from the resources used should be evaluated with the most economical and environmentally friendly attitude without harming nature. Considering factors such as the country's economy, storage cost, efficient use of resources and most importantly environmental and public health, evaluating these wastes is quite important. Today, many studies have been carried out to assess these wastes with an economic and ecological attitude. Determining the characterization of waste is the most fundamental step to be taken for the selection of the waste evaluation method. Therefore, the most accurate evaluation method is decided by determining the characterization of the waste material to be used. In this study, it was aimed to determine the characterization of waste sludges from some of the drinking water treatment plants in Trabzon, Türkiye and to evaluate them in terms of ground stabilization. In this context, the waste sludge samples from the Esiroğlu, Akçaabat and Derecik Drinking Water Treatment Plants with traditional treatment systems were taken from the plants in slurry form and were first dewatered. Subsequently, a series of analyses and experimental studies on dewatered waste samples were carried out and characterizations of waste sludges were determined based on their mineralogical, chemical, physical and mechanical properties. As the material properties of the treatment sludges in the drinking water treatment plants were evaluated, the WS-1 was found to the most suitable material that could be used in the stabilization of soils. Therefore, the use of this sludge will be both ecological and economical.