ABSTRACT
Sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment often contains a great amount of organic matter which can be converted to energy and resources through a series of technologies. Microbes-mediated bioprocess offers advantages such as free pollution, mild condition and less investment. However, the information regarding microbes for sewage sludge treatment is lacking, it is necessary to study the microbes involved in sludge treatment process and identify their roles in sludge treatment. In this chapter, the typical sewage sludge treatment technologies and their microbial mechanisms are presented; then, the available microbes for improved sewage sludge treatment are summarized and their specific roles in enhancing sludge degradation are analysed; finally, the current practice of sewage sludge treatment and legislations are presented and possible perspectives are provided. The microbes play a crucial role in sewage sludge treatment and possess great potential in improving energy and resource recovery from sludge bioprocesses.
