B-Sludge Advanced Sludge Treatment

B-Sludge is the smart solution for organic sludge treatment, handling everything from diluted streams to dewatered material. Designed to process a wide range of Total Suspended Solids (1% to over 30%), B-Sludge ensures consistent feed conditions for downstream processes, unlocking efficiency and value at every stage.

The system combines mechanical pre-treatment, hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC), and polyelectrolyte-free solid-liquid separation, providing an integrated, turnkey solution for modern sludge management.

With B-Sludge, every treatment step works in synergy, reducing environmental impact, lowering operating costs, and turning a traditional waste challenge into a resource opportunity.

CHARACTERISATION AND PRE-TREATMENTS

Before any treatment, it’s crucial to understand the sludge you are working with. Sludge characterisation delivers precise insight into its origin and composition, guiding all subsequent process decisions. By analysing key parameters in our laboratory, we can:
  • Design plant modules with accuracy
  • Optimise chemical and energy use
  • Predict sludge behaviour across processes
  • Prevent inefficiencies and reduce costs
The result? A treatment process that is more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective, providing measurable savings and improved plant performance.

Once characterised, the sludge undergoes targeted pre-treatment to improve treatability and reduce operating costs. Key steps include thickening and turbo-dissolution, creating a stable, optimised feed for downstream processing and improving overall plant performance.

Thickening increases solids content to 10–12%, reducing sludge volume and delivering concrete advantages:
  • Compact footprint – smaller volumes, more efficient plant layout
  • Lower energy consumption – less sludge to handle reduces operational costs
  • Enhanced downstream performance – easier pumping and processing

Turbo-dissolution is the ideal solution for pre-dewatered sludge, enabling cost-efficient, centralised (HUB) treatment. Using on-site technical water, the process adjusts sludge to a controlled 12% TSS concentration. Benefits include:
  • Optimised for downstream recovery – perfect preparation for HTC and filter press stages
  • Stable, homogeneous feed – consistent performance and predictable results
  • Efficient HUB operation – reduced transport needs, improved logistics, and economies of scale

HTC: TURNING SLUDGE INTO A RESOURCE

Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) is a central stage of the B-Sludge process, designed to upgrade sewage sludge and unlock new value from waste. This thermochemical treatment, carried out at 180-200°C under autogenous pressure, transforms sludge into hydrochar, a carbon-rich biomass with high energy content. Using a series of sequential reactors in an alternating batch configuration, HTC enables continuous, efficient treatment, while a dedicated heat exchanger optimises energy use, making the process both sustainable and cost-effective.

HTC delivers multiple benefits that enhance downstream processes and overall plant performance:
  • Solids and COD solubilisation – improves sludge treatability and downstream efficiency
  • Volume and mass reduction – reduces sludge by up to 80%
  • Enhanced solid-liquid separation – modifies colloidal structure without polyelectrolytes, achieving high dry matter content
  • Bioavailable carbon – releases carbon into the liquid fraction, supporting biogas and volatile fatty acid production
  • Energy efficiency – exothermic reactions and heat recovery minimise energy consumption
Fully integrated within the B-Sludge system, HTC maximises overall yield and creates new opportunities for by-product valorisation, representing a concrete step towards circular and decarbonised sludge management.

Effective treatment starts with detailed sludge characterisation. Using our in-house laboratory or certified external partners, we analyse sludge samples before and after HTC, tracking key parameters such as solubilisation, COD, nutrients, and solids content. This data-driven approach allows us to:
  • Customise HTC settings for each sludge type
  • Optimise energy and chemical consumption
  • Ensure reliable operation and predictable results
  • Maximise overall process efficiency and downstream performance
The outcome is a fully optimised, sustainable HTC stage, turning sludge into a valuable resource while integrating seamlessly with the B-Sludge treatment chain.

SOLID-LIQUID SEPARATION

After HTC treatment, the sludge undergoes solid-liquid separation through a filter press, with no need for polyelectrolytes. HTC modifies the sludge’s rheological properties, making solids easier to separate and improving overall process efficiency. This stage is critical for B-Sludge, enabling substantial volume reduction while recovering valuable resources from both solid and liquid fractions.

Supplied by Diemme Filtration, the filter press applies high mechanical pressure (up to 15 bar) to the filter plates. Solids are retained, while water enriched with bioavailable COD from the HTC phase is efficiently drained for further use. Key benefits:
  • Superior filtration efficiency – Post-HTC sludge has a more aggregated structure, allowing excellent filtration without additional conditioning agents
  • Significant volume reduction – Sludge is reduced by up to 80% compared to conventional separation methods, thanks to HTC solubilisation and high dry matter content.
  • Resource recovery – The pathogen-free liquid fraction, rich in COD, can be reused in biological stages or as a chemical substitute in industrial processes.
Fully integrated into the B-Sludge system, the filter press maximises process efficiency, reduces waste volume, and opens new opportunities for by-product valorisation. All output materials are then analysed in our in-house laboratory or via certified external partners, completing a fully controlled and sustainable treatment process.

Integrated, Sustainable, Smart

B-Sludge is more than a single technology: it’s a complete system where characterisation, pre-treatment, HTC, and solid–liquid separation work together.

Every stage is designed to enhance the next, delivering:

  • Improved operational efficiency
  • Lower environmental impact
  • Reduced costs
  • New opportunities to recover value from sludge

Turn sludge from a challenge into a strategic resource with B-Sludge.

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