Page 62 - AJWEP-22-5
P. 62
Darlami, et al.
production and biofuel processing. By reducing water valorization while minimizing environmental impact.
content, dewatering improves the calorific value of the To utilize the biodigestate as a fertilizer, the digestate
sludge, making it more energy-efficient and suitable for should be of the highest quality and free from pathogens,
combustion or further treatment. 5 physical and chemical impurities, and pollutants. This
Dewatering machines have versatile applications can be achieved by using anaerobic digestion feedstocks
across various sectors, significantly improving efficiency of controlled quality. Despite these innovations,
16
in material handling and resource recovery. In the challenges remain in terms of scalability and energy
6
agricultural sector, dewatering is crucial for managing efficiency, as well as the treatment of variable bioslurry
animal manure, crop residues, and biogas slurry. It compositions, particularly in developing countries. 17
helps to convert these waste materials into high-quality Previous reviews mainly emphasized the lack of
organic fertilizers with improved nutrient retention region-specific performance data and cost-optimized
that can be stored easily. Different crops, including technologies for biodigestate dewatering. This
7
duckweed and alfalfa, can be dewatered and utilized for review aims to bridge the gap by synthesizing recent
multiple purposes, such as mixing with biogas slurry advancements in dewatering machines, particularly
to produce various fuels based on their contents. In in developing countries such as Nepal. By comparing
8
addition, dewatering reduces waste volume, lowering performance metrics across various sectors and
transportation costs and enhancing sustainability in applications, this paper highlights both the technical
farming practices. In the food processing industry, feasibility and economic viability of applying modern
dewatering machines play a crucial role in removing dewatering technologies for improved bioslurry
moisture from products such as cassava pulp, potato management. It also discusses underexplored
starch, and fruit residues. This improves the shelf life, opportunities such as thermally assisted mechanical
quality, and ease of processing for food ingredients. dewatering (TAMD) and low-cost, fuel-free solutions,
9
Dewatering also aids in starch extraction, reducing thereby offering insights into policymakers, engineers,
energy consumption in drying processes. 10 and researchers aiming to enhance the circular economy
The mining sector benefits from dewatering potential of anaerobic digestion systems.
machines for removing water from blastholes, mine
sludge, and mineral processing waste. Effective 2. Review methodology
dewatering ensures better handling of mining residues
and enhances efficiency in mineral extraction with This review paper followed a structured and systematic
minimal energy consumption. In wastewater treatment approach to identify, analyze, and select relevant
11
and sludge management, dewatering is crucial for literature on dewatering technologies applied for
reducing the water content in sewage sludge, making agricultural, industrial, and mining purposes. The
it easier to transport and dispose of, thereby decreasing primary objective is to investigate the performance,
environmental impacts. It also helps in producing efficiency, and industrial applicability of various
12
solid waste for further treatment, such as composting dewatering machines. The systematic approach applied
or energy recovery through incineration. Most water to this review is shown in Figure 1.
treatment plants utilize sludge conditioning to improve
sludge dewatering. The sludge dewaterability needs 3. Dewatering technologies
13
to be enhanced through conditioning processes to
reduce the volume of sludge. Similarly, in biomass Dewatering methods can be categorized into two different
14
energy production, dewatering increases the calorific categories: natural dewatering and mechanical/artificial
value of biomass fuels, making them more efficient dewatering. Natural dewatering relies on gravity settling
for combustion. Reducing moisture content in biomass and porous surfaces, whereas mechanical dehydration
enhances its energy output, making it a viable alternative involves machinery and processes to remove moisture
to fossil fuels. The widespread application of from the particles. There are various methods for
18
15
dewatering machines across these industries underlines moisture content removal using mechanical dewatering
their importance in optimizing resource use, improving technologies. Among the methods, vibrating screen
waste management, and enhancing sustainability. (78%) and belt press (67.6%) achieve the highest
Studies in Europe and East Asia have explored the total solid content, demonstrating superior dewatering
integration of anaerobic digestion with nutrient recovery performance. Centrifugal separation (47%) and inclined
units and thermal drying to maximize bioresource stationary screen (37.4%) provide moderate efficiency,
Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 56 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025130093

