scholarly journals Characterization of the Gaseous and Odour Emissions from the Composting of Conventional Sewage Sludge

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel González ◽  
Nagore Guerra ◽  
Joan Colón ◽  
David Gabriel ◽  
Sergio Ponsá ◽  
...  

Many different alternatives exist to manage and treat sewage sludge, all with the common drawback of causing environmental and odour impacts. The main objective of this work is to present a full inventory of the gaseous and odorous emissions generated during the bench-scale composting of conventional sewage sludge, aiming at assessing the process performance and providing global valuable information of the different gaseous emission patterns and emission factors found for greenhouse gases (GHG) and odorant pollutants during the conventional sewage sludge composting process. The main process parameters evaluated were the temperature of the material, specific airflow, average oxygen uptake rate (OUR), and final dynamic respiration index (DRI), resulting in a proper performance of the sewage sludge composting process and obtaining the expected final product. The obtained material was properly stabilized, presenting a final DRI of 1.2 ± 0.2 g O2·h−1·kg−1 Volatile Solids (VS). GHGs emission factor, in terms of kg CO2eq·Mg−1 dry matter of sewage sludge (DM–SS), was found to be 2.30 × 102. On the other hand, the sewage sludge composting odour emission factor (OEF) was 2.68 × 107ou·Mg−1 DM–SS. Finally, the most abundant volatile organic compounds (VOC) species found in the composting gaseous emissions were terpenes, sulphur compounds, ketones, and aromatic hydrocarbons, whereas the major odour contributors identified were dimethyldisulphide, eucalyptol, and α-pinene.

Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Xavier Alberico Freitas ◽  
Lara Aguiar Borges ◽  
Handray Fernandes de Souza ◽  
Fernando Colen ◽  
Alex Sander Rodrigues Cangussu ◽  
...  

The generation of large volumes of waste by industrial processes has become an object of study because of the necessity to characterize the composition of residues in order to suggest appropriate treatments and to minimize adverse environmental impacts. We performed analyses of total fixed and volatile solids, moisture, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). We found high organic matter content. We also measured physicochemical characteristics, including corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. Sewage sludge showed levels of chloride and sodium above the maximum allowed limits. These data suggest the potential for anaerobic digestion as a treatment option for sewage sludge and for its use as a biofertilizer.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-Y. Chiang ◽  
S.-D. Yoi ◽  
H.N. Lin ◽  
K.-S. Wang

This study investigated the stabilization of heavy metals in a sewage sludge composting process using kaoline addition. The results indicate that the temperature increased rapidly to the thermophilic phase (>55°C) at day 1. The additives enhanced the rate of biodegradation and microbial activity during the co-composting process. The changes in pH (ranging from 8 to 8.5) and electrical conductivity (EC) (≤3 mS/cm) were in compliance with the best conditions during the co-composting process. The C/N ratio was determined in each co-compost sample as an indicator of the co-compost maturity. From the end product of the co-compost experiment, changes in the ratios indicate that the additives promote the co-compost maturation rate. Based on the physicochemical characteristics of the co-compost, the potential use for sewage sludge resource recovery as manure is suggested. The total concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn in the co-compost product were far below the limit values for agricultural use. The leachability of Pb, Cu, and Cr decreased with increasing co-composting time. That is, the kaoline additive has an inhibitory capacity for leaching heavy metals. The Cd concentrations in the sludge compost were below the detection limits. Because the total concentration of Zn was high in the sludge compost and most soluble Zn was leachable, the leachability of Zn ranged from 25% to 29%. As a result of the physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal stabilization, the selected additive was shown to improve the sewage sludge compost quality and provide information for agricultural applications.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bouchy ◽  
E. Senante ◽  
P. Dauthuille ◽  
M. Aupetitgendre ◽  
JP Harry ◽  
...  

Recent French regulations have driven people to build many composting and drying sites over the last few years. The control of odour nuisance is essential within the framework of the respect of sustainable development, However to be dealt with properly, this issue must be taken into account when designing a facility and throughout its operation. Therefore tools are required to give the means to assess and anticipate odorous emissions. Within this context, a campaign of field trials was launched on several Suez Environnement composting and drying sites. Various types of sludges were treated on different types of industrial composting and drying reactors. In each case the reactor was monitored throughout the sludge treatment and the following compounds analysed: sulphur compounds (H2S, mercaptans, sulphides), nitrogenous compounds (ammonia and amines), aldehydes, ketones, Volatile Fatty Acids, alcohols, VOCs and odours. This work has enabled relevant parameters influencing odour emissions during sludge composting and drying to be determined, and is the basis for a complete composting and drying emissions model.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Czekała ◽  
Jacek Dach ◽  
Damian Janczak ◽  
Anna Smurzyńska ◽  
Agnieszka Kwiatkowska ◽  
...  

Abstract After entrance to EU in 2004, the management of sewage sludge has become more and more important problem for the new members. In Poland, one of the most promising technologies is composting process of sewage sludge with carbonaceous materials. However, the high price of typically used cereal straw forces the specialists to look for new and cheap materials used as donor of carbon and substrates creating good, porous structure of composted heap. This work presents the results of sewage sludge composting mixed with sawdust and maize straw used to create structure favorable for air exchange. The results show dynamic thermophilic phase of composting process in all cases where maize straw was used.


2013 ◽  
Vol 777 ◽  
pp. 457-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nian Hong ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Xue Hong Zhang ◽  
Tong Bin Chen

Turning can supply oxygen and increase dewatering efficiency during the composting process. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of turning on water removal. In this study, different turning modes were used in different fermentation phases. Results showed that turning in thermophilic phase improve the efficiency of water removal; in cooling phase, higher turning frequency resulted in lower water removal; turning in temperature-increasing phase had no significant effect on water removal. Unturning in the temperature-increasing phase, turning once in the thermophilic phase, and turning every 4 days in the cooling phase achieved the best effects of water removal, the water reduction was 0.566 tonston-1 matrix.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 3072-3079 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schaum ◽  
D. Lensch ◽  
P. Cornel

Abstract The composition of sewage sludge and, thus, its energetic potential is influenced by wastewater and wastewater treatment processes. Higher or lower heating values (HHV or LHV) are decisive factors for the incineration/gasification/pyrolysis of sewage sludge. The HHV is analyzed with a bomb calorimeter and converted to the LHV. It is also possible to calculate the heating value via chemical oxygen demand (COD), total volatile solids (TVS), and elemental composition. Calculating the LHV via the COD provides a suitable method. In contrast, the correlation of the HHV or LHV with the TVS is limited. One prerequisite here is a constant specific energy density; this was given with the types of sewage sludge (primary, surplus/excess, and digested sludge) investigated. If the energy density is not comparable with sewage sludge, for instance with the co-substrate (bio-waste, grease, etc.), the estimation of the heating value using TVS will fail. When calculating the HHV or LHV via the elemental composition, one has to consider the validity of the coefficients of the calculation equation. Depending on the organic composition, it might be necessary to adjust the coefficients, e.g. when adding co-substrates.


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