Abstract: There is disclosed a novel apparatus and process for the complete dewatering of sludge containing hazardous and toxic materials, the stabilization of pathogens and microorganisms contained in the sludge and the disintegration and volume reduction of the resultant solids including a blending chamber for the blending of sludge and a predetermined amount of electrolyte, the partial dewatering of the sludge and electrolyte in a filter unit, the adjustment of the resultant filter cake to a desired thickness and the measurement of the conductivity of the filter cake and the transporting of the filter cake to a disintegration chamber where the filter cake is introduced to an automatically-adjustable source of electrical energy reducing the filter cake to particulate solids and where the filter cake conductivity measurements are communicated to the blending station and the source of electrical energy for the automatic adjustment of same.