Sludge-Derived Biostimulant Preparation for Phytohormone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sludge production from sewage treatment plants poses environmental risks due to improper stabilization and contains valuable phytohormones that are not effectively regulated, limiting their application as plant biostimulants to enhance crop growth and resistance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving ultrasonic conditioning and alkaline thermal hydrolysis is used to prepare sludge-derived plant biostimulants enriched with auxins or jasmonic acid, utilizing specific solid content adjustments and thermal treatments to enhance phytohormone content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anaerobic digestion is employed for sludge resource recovery, then sludge stabilization and production of gaseous fuel are achieved, but excessive to-be-treated digested sludge is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful excess digested sludge into a valuable resource by extracting phytohormones (auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid) that can enhance crop growth and resistance. This transforms the waste problem into a beneficial plant biostimulant product, addressing both sludge stabilization and reducing the burden of digested sludge disposal.
2Productivity
If inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are applied to improve crop yield, then crop yield increases, but crop quality declines and potential risks to human health and soil ecosystems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fertilizer by using biological extraction methods to obtain plant biostimulants rich in phytohormones from sludge. This produces a natural alternative that maintains crop yield while improving crop quality and eliminating the harmful effects of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides on soil ecosystems and human health.
3Productivity
If sludge extract is used as liquid fertilizer, then crop growth and pest resistance are enhanced, but phytohormone composition cannot be effectively regulated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification and concentration of different phytohormone components during the extraction process. By pre-separating and regulating the phytohormone composition before application, the system enables targeted formulation of biostimulants with specific hormonal profiles matched to different crop needs and stress conditions, making the product easy to operate with.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively increases phytohormone concentrations, enabling the use of sludge-derived biostimulants as liquid fertilizers to promote seed germination, plant development, and stress resistance, addressing environmental and resource recovery challenges.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting an activated sludge material from an aeration tank of a municipal wastewater treatment plant to ultrasonic conditioning
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the first mixture to a first alkaline thermal hydrolysis and separation to obtain the auxin hormone
Implementation Method 3
heating the first mixture or the second mixture to 45-55° C. followed by holding at 45-55° C. for 8-13 min; heating the first mixture or the second mixture to 120-200° C. followed by holding at 120-200° C. for 1-3 h
Implementation Method 4
subjecting the second mixture to semi-anaerobic digestion biological treatment and solid-liquid separation to obtain a sludge having a solid content of 5-20 wt. %; subjecting the sludge to a second alkaline thermal hydrolysis and separation to obtain the jasmonic acid hormone
Data Source
AI summary
A method for directional preparation of a sludge-derived plant biostimulant is provided, in which an activated sludge material is collected from an aeration tank of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and subjected to ultrasonic conditioning and transformation treatment to directionally prepare a target sludge-derived plant biostimulant. The transformation treatment involves solid content adjustment and alkaline thermal hydrolysis, and for a jasmonic acid hormone, a semi-anaerobic digestion biological treatment is further required.