The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) is to evaluate different management options that also include various operational and technical requirements to provide improved decision-making options for sludge and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) at military installations. The work should focus on holistic management of these residuals to cost effectively address the critical data gaps.
The proposed work should address the reduction in volume of sludges and biosolids while removing the risk presented by the presence of chemicals of concern (COCs) and co-occurring chemicals. Of specific interest will be those thermal, chemical, or solidification technologies that result in the residual materials being converted to a useable fuel/energy source, or locking those down into inert, highly stable solids (e.g., glass or ceramics). Specific information on the final disposition of the residuals (e.g., fuel/energy, inert solids with reuse, landfill, agricultural or forestry reuse) is required. COCs must include those historically associated with sludge (e.g., metals, persistent organic compounds) as well as emerging COCs such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics. Air emissions must also be considered, targeting a 99.9999% capture/destruction efficiency.
Proposers should address one or more of the following specific objectives:
- Develop methods to remove and/or destroy emerging COCs that remain persistent in sludges and biosolids including PFAS (long and short chain) and microplastics.
- Develop novel thermal, chemical, or solidification technologies that result in conversion of sludge/biosolids into useable fuel/energy sources.
- Develop novel thermal, chemical, or solidification technologies that result in conversion of sludges/biosolids into inert, highly stable solids (e.g., glass or ceramics) that destroy or lock-down the chemicals of concern.
- Evaluate the performance of destruction technologies related to the production of by- products through each stage of treatment.
- Investigate and identify the exact thermodynamic parameters required to achieve complete mineralization of chemicals of concern.
- Investigate the interactions between COCs and their effect on leachability, treatment and aging during reuse.
Proposers must explicitly state how the proposed effort builds on previous research and addresses key data gaps. Research and development activities at laboratory-, bench, or field-scale will be considered. Work does not necessarily have to culminate in a field-scale effort.
Implementing improved management options for sludge and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants on installations provides critical operational, financial, and environmental advantages to the Department of War (DoW). Addressing the research needs described above will provide installation managers and environmental decisionmakers with validated, cost-effective treatment and disposition alternatives that significantly reduce residual waste volumes while reducing long-term environmental liabilities. Furthermore, converting impacted residuals into usable energy sources or chemically inert, stable solids for beneficial reuse will decrease off-site disposal and transportation expenditures, ensure continuous compliance with evolving federal and state regulatory criteria, and enhance overall installation sustainability and mission resilience.
Wastewater treatment plants generate sludge and biosolids that may contain PFAS originating from various activities. Managing these materials is increasingly more challenging and costly due to stricter regulatory environment and increasing costs of disposal. Historically, municipal and military WWTP residuals have been managed through land application as agricultural or forestry amendments, disposal in municipal solid waste landfills, or conventional incineration. However, conventional biological and physical wastewater treatment processes often do not degrade recalcitrant fluorinated compounds; instead, hydrophobic and surfactant compounds preferentially partition into the solid phase, concentrating within primary and secondary sludge and resulting biosolids.
Alongside traditional COCs such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, WWTP residuals frequently contain complex mixtures emerging COCs. Consequently, traditional disposition routes (land application and unlined landfilling) present significant issues for secondary impacts through groundwater leaching and surface runoff.
Advanced thermal, chemical, and solidification/stabilization technologies offer promising pathways to simultaneously achieve residual volume reduction, complete destruction of organic COCs, and energy recovery or creation of stabilized mineral matrices. Research must establish the fundamental thermodynamic thresholds, residence times, and chemical matrices required to drive full defluorination to fluoride ions while ensuring off-gas containment exceeding 99.9999% capture efficiency. Further research is required to elucidate full-train mass balances, quantify multi-stage byproduct generation, and measure the long-term leachability and structural stability of final residual solids under realistic environmental weathering and aging conditions.
The cost and time to meet the requirements of this SON are at the discretion of the proposer. Two options are available:
Standard Proposals: These proposals describe a complete research effort. The proposer should incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. SERDP projects normally run from two to five years in length and vary considerably in cost consistent with the scope of the effort. It is expected that most proposals will fall into this category.
Limited Scope Proposals: Proposers with innovative approaches to the SON that entail high technical risk or have minimal supporting data may submit a Limited Scope Proposal for funding up to $350,000 and approximately one year in duration. Such proposals may be eligible for follow-on funding if they result in a successful initial project. The objective of these proposals should be to acquire the data necessary to demonstrate proof-of-concept or reduction of risk that will lead to development of a future Standard Proposal. Proposers should submit Limited Scope Proposals in accordance with the SERDP Core Solicitation instructions and deadlines.
Anthony Danko, Ph.D., P.E.
SERDP & ESTCP Program Manager
Environmental Restoration
