Multiscale texture characterization of wastewater sludges dried in a convective rig

Secondary sludges from two different wastewater treatment plants are conditioned and dewatered in the same way before drying in a lab-scale convective rig at the same operating conditions. Several techniques are used to characterize the texture of the dried materials over a wide range of scales from nm up to mm. Texture and porosity of the dried products are studied by SEM imaging, nitrogen absorption isotherms (0.5 < d(p) < 50 nm), mercury porosimetry (7.5 nm < d(p) < 150 mum) and X-ray microtomography (spatial resolution= 41 mum). The image analysis of cross-sections reconstructed by microtomography also allows following shrinkage and textural evolution during drying.