Municipal waste stabilization in a reactor with an integrated active and passive aeration system. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kasinski, Slawomir; Slota, Monika; Markowski, Michal; Kaminska, Anna
• Is Part Of: Waste management. Volume 50(2016)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Municipal waste -- Composting -- Aerobic stabilization -- Passive aeration -- Active aeration; Hazardous wastes -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 363.728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.02.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-053X

Abstract

Highlights: Moisture content during composting might be controlled by the intensity of aeration. Passive aeration allows maintenance of the thermophilic levels in larger scale. The top layer of waste offers the most challenging conditions in the reactor. Integrated passive and active aeration system is an effective method for MBT of waste. Abstract: To test whether an integrated passive and active aeration system could be an effective solution for aerobic decomposition of municipal waste in technical conditions, a full-scale composting reactor was designed. The waste was actively aerated for 5 d, passively aerated for 35 d, and then actively aerated for 5 d, and the entire composting process was monitored. During the 45-day observation period, changes in the fractional, morphological and physico-chemical characteristics of the waste at the top of the reactor differed from those in the center of the reactor. The fractional and morphological analysis made during the entire process of stabilization, showed the total reduction of organic matter measured of 82 wt% and 86 wt% at the respective depths. The reduction of organic matter calculated using the results of Lost of Ignition (LOI) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) showed, respectively, 40.51–46.62% organic matter loss at the top and 45.33–53.39% in the center of the reactor. At the end of the process, moisture content, LOI and TOC at the top were 3.29%, 6.10% and 4.13% higher, respectively, than in the center. The results showed that application of passive aeration in larger scale simultaneously allows the thermophilic levels to be maintained during municipal solid waste composting process while not inhibiting microbial activity in the reactor.