Composting of dewatered wastewater sludge with various ratios of pruning waste used as a bulking agent and monitored by respirometer

The effects of different volumetric ratios of wastewater sludge to bulking agent on the performance of full-scale composting were studied. Volumetric ratios of wastewater sludge to pruning waste, used as a bulking agent, were 1:2 (Pile 1), 1:2.5 (Pile 2) and 1:3 (Pile 3). Experiments were carried ou...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ponsa Salas, Sergio|||0000-0001-5212-3860, Pagans i Miró, Estel·la|||0000-0003-3403-7824, Sánchez, Antoni|||0000-0003-4254-8528
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:163650
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/163650
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2009.01.002
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Bulking agent
Composting
Wastewater sludge
Descripción
Sumario:The effects of different volumetric ratios of wastewater sludge to bulking agent on the performance of full-scale composting were studied. Volumetric ratios of wastewater sludge to pruning waste, used as a bulking agent, were 1:2 (Pile 1), 1:2.5 (Pile 2) and 1:3 (Pile 3). Experiments were carried out in an uncovered plant using windrow composting with weekly turning. To monitor the evolution of the three composting piles, routine parameters such as temperature and interstitial oxygen level, chemical parameters such as organic matter, moisture and C/N ratio, and biologically related indices such as respiration indices at process temperature (RIprocess) and at 37 °C (RI₃₇) were monitored. Different responses were observed in the three piles; Pile 1 did not accomplish the necessary requirements in terms of sanitation and RIprocess for a typical composting process; Piles 2 and 3 presented a similar behaviour, reaching thermophilic temperatures for a long period and, due to their high biological activity, high RIprocess. The quality of the product obtained in the three piles in terms of stability (RI₃₇ and the Rottegrade self-heating test) and maturity (germination index) were measured, with compost from Pile 3 the most stable. To achieve satisfactory stability and sanitation for application to land, optimisation of the sludge to bulking agent ratio used to process wastewater sludge into compost appears to be crucial.