High-rate stabilization and associated air emissions prospected during on-site in-vessel sewage sludge composting. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oazana, Shlomi; Varma, Vempalli S.; Saadi, Ibrahim; Sharma, Dayanand; Hanan, Aviva; Medina, Shlomit; Avidov, Ran; Grinshpon, Yosef; Rosenfeld, Lavi; Gross, Amit; Laor, Yael
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology reports. Volume 11(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Composting simulator -- Accelerated intense degradation phase -- Self-heating -- Temperature-feedback control -- Rotary drum -- Large-scale; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biotransformation (Metabolism) -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel; Organic wastes; Factory and trade waste; Biotransformation (Metabolism); Biomass energy; Agricultural wastes; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2589-014X

Abstract

Abstract: On-site in-vessel composting of sewage sludge is considered to be applied in Israel for peripheral wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on lab-scale simulations using municipal sewage sludge and green waste, this study identifies a prospective range of values related to biomass stabilization during short-term processing. Within two weeks, 26–30% of the initial organic carbon was released as CO2, potential heat formation was decreased by 73–82%, and odor emissions by 87–99.5%. This reduction was mainly associated with co-decrease of NH3, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide. Phytotoxicity was reduced by 28–52% whereas some residual toxicity might be attributed to non-biodegradable inorganic compounds. Stabilization rates observed in flexibly controlled lab-scale simulations can represent closed and efficiently aerated large-scale industrial systems. These prospective ranges of stabilization parameters are critical for deciding on the necessity of a curing stage for on-site enclosed installations in WWTPs. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: A series of composting simulations using municipal sewage sludge was studied. 94% of odor activity values were contributed by dimethyl di- & trisulfide & NH3 . A rapid composting phase dramatically reduced odor emissions by up to 99.5%. A rapid and efficient phase may eliminate the need for compost maturation. Lab simulations can represent closed and efficiently aerated large-scale systems.