Proceedings

Since the introduction of the belt filter press, there has been few major developments or improvements in sludge dewatering
technologies. Most improvements have been minor, but have achieved small but useful improvements in sludge cake dry
solids. Belt filter press technology is limited by the pressure that can be developed between the shear rollers and hydraulic
permeability of the sludge. Application of Electro-Kinetic sludge dewatering is a significant development in belt filter press
technology, we can now realise cake dry solids of over 30%, performance levels previously not achievable with belt filter press
technology. Full scale results have successfully demonstrated dry solids in excess of 30% are achievable using a conventional
belt filter press with Electro-Kinetic technology. The electrokinetic sludge dewatering technology is being developed by
Electrokinetic Ltd and Ashbrook Simon Hartley Ltd.

KEY WORDS
Belt press, dewatering, sewage sludge electroosmosis, electrokinetic geosynthetics, EKG.