Disclosed herein is a method for dewatering sewage sludge by using
sludge-coal-oil co-agglomeration ("SOCA") which comprises the steps of
physically, chemically or biologically conditioning sludge to impart
hydrophobicity and lipophilicity to the sludge (conditioning step),
supplying oil and coal to the conditioned sludge with stirring to form
sludge-coal-oil agglomerates (agglomerating step), enlarging the particle
diameter of sludge-coal-oil agglomerates (size enlargement step), and
remaining the enlarged sludge-coal-oil agglomerates over a sieve to
selectively separate them from hydrophilic materials dispersed in tailing
water(screening step).According to the method, since sludge can be
rapidly, easily and effectively dewatered and purified when compared to
conventional sludge treatment methods. In addition, there is no risk of
involving malodor and air pollution. Furthermore, the dewatered sludge
can be utilized as a high-quality fuel.