SLUDGE SOLIDS

MUNICIPAL WASTE TREATMENT PRODUCES SLUDGES RICH IN COMPLEX ORGANIC CHEMICALS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A CHEMICAL RAW MATERIAL AND RESOURCE ANALOGOUS TO WOOD PULP, AG AGRICULTURAL WASTES, OR PETROLEUM. CURRENT DISPOSAL P PRACTICES OF LANDFILLING, OCEAN DISPOSAL AND EVEN INCINERAR ATION DISREGARD THESE VALUES AND AT BEST RECOVER ENERGY (ANDPOSSIBLY METALS). IT IS PROPOSED TO CARRY OUT SEVERAL CLASSICAL CHEMICAL OPERATIONS, SUCH AS ACETYLATION, CARBOXYMETHYLATION, NITRATION, ETC., ON SAMPLES OF MUNICIPAL SLUDGES, EMPHASIZING THE CELLULOSIC NATURE OF THE SLUDGES. THE GOAL WILL BE TO PRODUCE AND ISOLATE DERIVATIVES THAT CAN BE COM PARED TO EXISTING PRODUCTS NOW MANUFACTURED FROM VIRGIN MATERIALS (E.G., CELLULOSE ACETATE, CARBOXYMETHYL CELLU LOSE, NITROCELLULOSE). IN ADDITION, RECOGNIZING THAT SLUDGE IS A COMPLEX MIXTURE, SOLUBILIZATION PROCESSES, SUCH AS XANTHATIN OR TREATMENT WITH CUPRAMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, WILL BE EXPLORED AS A MEANS OF ISOLATING A PURE CELLULOSE. PRODUCT EVALUATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO THE EXTENT OF DEMONSTRAT ING THAT USABLE FIBERS, FILMS, ETC, CAN BE PRODUCED. IN ADDITION, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROJECT WILL BE AN EVAL UATION OF THE NEW WASTES THAT WOULD BE GENERATED AND A PREL IMINARY JUDGEMENT OF WHETHER SUCH PROCESSING OFFERS ENVIRO NMENTAL BENEFITS.