Performance of different systems for the composting of the source-selected organic fraction of municipal solid waste
Ruggieri, Luz (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Gea Leiva, Teresa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Mompeó, Marisol (Prointraval S.L.)
Sayara, Tahseen A. S. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Sanchez, Antoni (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2008
Abstract:	Performance of three pile composting systems at field-scale were studied and compared in the composting of source-selected organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW): turned pile (TP), static forced-aerated pile (SAP) and turned forced-aerated pile (TAP). Routine parameters such as temperature, oxygen content, moisture and porosity were monitored. Temperature was found to be higher in turned systems whereas oxygen content was higher in forced-aerated systems. Although the initial air-filled porosity (AFP) for all mixtures was high, around 70%, the material tended to compact in the static system. A high degree of heterogeneity was found in the non-turned system. Extent of biodegradation was measured by respiration techniques (from 5. 3 to 1. 1 mg [O2] g [organic matter {OM}]-1 h-1 in TP and from 4. 7 to 0. 7 mg [O2] g [OM]-1 h-1 in turned forced-aerated pile). The non-turned compost showed a low level of stability (3. 6 mg [O2] g [OM]-1 h-1) and the lowest maturity grade (I) measured by the self-heating test. In forced-aerated systems a low intermittent aeration rate of 1 l kg [volatile solids {VS}]-1 min-1 (5 min on, 30 min off) proved to be excessive, causing major water losses and hampering moisture control. Comparison of the results obtained for TP and TAP demonstrated that the investment cost in a forced-aeration system is not necessary for this waste. Hence, turned systems are recommended for OFMSW pile composting.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CTM2006/00315/TECNO
Rights:	Aquest material està protegit per drets d'autor i/o drets afins. Podeu utilitzar aquest material en funció del que permet la legislació de drets d'autor i drets afins d'aplicació al vostre cas. Per a d'altres usos heu d'obtenir permís del(s) titular(s) de drets.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió sotmesa a revisió
Subject:	Organic wastes ; Municipal solid waste ; Pile composting ; Turned system ; Aeration ; Respiration index
Published in:	Biosystems engineering, Vol. 101, Issue 1, (Sep. 2008) , p. 78-86, ISSN 1537-5110

DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.05.014

Pre-print 35 p, 1.0 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Engineering > Composting Research Group (GICOM)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles