Geotubes Technology in Sludge Dewatering

With higher concerns for environmental sustainability, sludge treatment is one of the focal areas where best practices in waste management can be applied. Sludge is the semi-solid by-product of industrial and sewage treatment, dredging and cleaning water bodies.

What is sludge dewatering?

This involves separating solid and liquid components of the sludge. This is often done to minimize waste for more efficient and cost-effective waste disposal. It becomes easier and to store and transport the solid component of the waste once the liquid is drained off.  Lighter loads translate into cheaper transport costs and lesser tonnage at the landfills. The water from sludge dewatering becomes easier to treat and recycle for other purposes. It can also be channeled back into waterways and bodies.

What are Geotubes?

There are different technologies used in sludge dewatering.  Using membranes as filters are one of them. Geotubes are large-scale polypropylene membranes with high filtering capabilities. They can handle different sludge dewatering services in various needs. Some of the areas where Geotubes have been effectively deployed include;

• Maintenance of sedimentation and ventilation reservoirs that are commonly used in sewage treatment as well as handling industrial waste.
• Cleaning artificial water bodies like ponds and reservoirs
• Cleaning natural water bodies like lakes and streams.
• Cleaning large-scale industrial reservoirs used to store organic and inorganic waste

Geotubes have also been effectively deployed in marine civil engineering works including;

• Barriers against coast erosion
• Construction of breakwaters
• Constriction of artificial islands
• What are the advantages of using Geotubes?

Geotubes have several advantages over other technologies used in dewatering servicese.g. belt filter presses, plate and frame, and centrifuges. Some of these advantages are;

High-performance filtering-   Geotubes are woven to ensure that 99% of solids are sieved. This technology is suitable where water is to be recycled for domestic use.

High flow rates – Unlike the other technologies, Geotubes can be quickly scaled up to handle higher volumes. Additional square footage of the membranes can be easily installed as needed. Geotubes are very effective in marine situations where the larger surface area is capable of handling different flow rates according to the tides.

Easy installation- Geotubes are non-mechanical and have no moving parts to put together.
Longer duration – The tough plastic membrane is able to handle high volumes without wearing out. Its non-mechanical nature means there are no parts to wear and tear.

No odors –High flow rates avoid storing the sludge for longer and any odors

Geotubes have radically changed the way dewatering services are carried out. Advantages in affordability, flow rates, and durability make this the go-to technology in sludge dewatering.

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