Viscosity as a Criterion for Optimum Dosing of Polymers in Waterworks Sludges

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of viscosity measurements as a method of assessing the optimum use of organic polymers as conditioning agents in sludge dewatering. The study focused on sludge from the clarifiers of a water-treatment works. In addition to viscosity measurements, the programme included an appraisal of other techniques for specifying dewater-ability, e.g. the specific resistance to filtration, the capillary suction time and the electrical charge status via streaming-current measurements.