Improving the Quality of Municipal Solid Waste Compost by Using Expanded Perlite and Natural Zeolite

• Published in: Clean : soil, air, water Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 330 - 334
• Main Authors: Turan, N. Gamze, Ergun, Osman Nuri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.03.2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Composting; Municipal Solid Waste; Perlite; Zeolite
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.200700135

The scope of this study was to investigate the effects of natural zeolite and expanded perlite on the quality of municipal solid waste compost. Various ratios of the materials were added as supplements to the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. These applications were periodically compared with an untreated control process. The results obtained from experimental studies clearly showed that municipal solid waste collected from the metropolitan city center of Samsun, Turkey could not be composted without any additions due to the very high moisture content, which reached up to 75–80%. In the untreated control process, thermophilic temperatures were not supported during the composting. In this system, ammonia and other odors became a problem because of the high pH levels, and the electrical conductivity was too high for aged compost. However, the addition of natural zeolite and expanded perlite had a positive affect on the quality of the final compost. Natural zeolite trapped ammonium and reduced nitrogen losses from the compost. Expanded perlite held excess moisture and supported improved aeration. The results also indicated that the use of natural zeolite together with expanded perlite in municipal solid waste composting processes produced mature and stable compost. Research Article: The effects of the addition of natural zeolite and expanded perlite on the quality of municipal solid waste compost are investigated. Natural zeolite is seen to trap ammonium and reduce nitrogen losses and expanded perlite to hold excess moisture and support improved aeration. The results also indicate that the use of these materials processes produces mature and stable compost.