Effect of initial physical characteristics on sludge compost performance

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 100; no. 15; pp. 3751 - 3758
• Main Authors: Trémier, Anne, Teglia, Cécile, Barrington, Suzelle
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2009; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Bulking agent; bulking agents; Composting; composts; Environment and pollution; Environmental Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; green wastes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Particle Size; Physical characteristics; physical properties; Pollution; Sewage - microbiology; sewage sludge; slaughterhouse wastes; Sludge; Soil; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Wastes; wastewater; wastewater treatment; water content; Bulking agent; Composting; Sludge; Physical characteristics; Compost; Wastes; Physical properties; DECHET; BOUE DE STATION D'EPURATION; BULKING AGENT; COMPOSTAGE; PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS; COMPOSTING; PROPRIETE PHYSIQUE; SLUDGE
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.01.009

To develop an active microbial activity quickly developing stabilizing thermophilic temperatures during the composting of wastewater sludge, the bulking agent (BA) plays a major role in establishing the recipe structure, exposed particle surface area and porosity. To optimize the biodegradation of a sludge compost recipe, the objective of this paper was to study the effect and interaction of initial moisture content (MC) and BA particle size distribution. Three 300 L insulated laboratory composters were used to treat two series of ten (10) recipes with different combinations of MC and BA particle size distribution. Using a to wastewater sludge to BA dry mass ratio of 1/6, the ten (10) recipes were repeated using two BA, residues recycled from a commercial sludge composting plant and crushed wood pallets. Each four week trial monitored O 2 uptake, temperature, compost consolidation and airflow distribution. The Central Composite Factor Design method produced a model from the results estimating the impact of a wider range of MC and BA particles size distribution. The MC directly affected the total O 2 uptake and therefore, organic matter biodegradation. The BA particle size distribution influenced compost consolidation with a MC crossed effect. Both BA particle size distribution and MC influenced compost airflow dispersion. Composting was optimized using the BA consisting of recycled green waste residues with particle size of 20–30 mm and a 55% MC. The predictive models suggested the need for further optimization of sludge and wood residue composting recipe.