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Rostek, Andrew. "Composting | KC." Kansas State University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/32710.
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Master of Landscape ArchitectureLandscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning
Jason S. Brody
Kansas City is currently under achieving in its capacity of divert recyclable and compostable solid waste from city landfills. The city recycling system provides free access to single family residents, but it does not provide access to high density residential and commercial land uses commonly found Downtown. To solve this dilemma, KCDC has studied the current solid waste systems in the city, and developed its [re]considered proposal through a MARC Solid Waste Management District grant to improve Kansas City waste diversion. This is achieved through a system of links, clusters and nodes which will help to promote and facilitate greater recycling (KCDC 2015 Fall Studio 2015) Compost | KC seeks to answer if the organic nodes as proposed in can effectively compost residential organic waste in down town Kansas City. As part of this system, the organic node at 12th and Holmes functionally demonstrates the potential feasibility and benefits of residential compost of organic solid waste. Through the site design, the proposed organic node creates an integrated system of residential organic waste collection, processing and utilization. Collected form a 15 minute radius the waste is processed into a rich organic compost that is used in various ways to improve soil quality for stormwater management, carbon sequestration, and increased biomass production in and around the site. To compost the organic waste, the site contains a series of in-vessel composting drums, agitated compost piles connected to greenhouses, and an external maturing pile visibly demonstrating and educating the public composting benefits. Managed through a local non-profit organization, compost is used to grow a variety of produce and nursery stock sold to help fund the site management. Organic waste is brought to the site by organized collection with apartment complexes and free public drop-off points. By incentivizing access, ease and appeal of composting in Kansas City for residences, the organic node at 12th and Holmes achieves the goals of both the site design and [re] considered proposals. By meeting those goals, the organic node helps to increase organic waste diversion and increase education and awareness about the benefits of composting in downtown Kansas City.
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Adhikari, Bijaya K. "Urban food waste composting." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=97883.
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In this thesis, a study was undertaken on the premise that the world population living in urban centers is expected to increase from 3.8 billion to 5.2 billion, from 2005 to 2025, representing 54% and 65% of total world population, respectively. The urban population (UP) growth will produce remarkable amounts of urban food waste (UFW) that will add more pressure on already overloaded municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems of cities. This problem is more serious in countries experiencing major economic growth such as China where UP is expected to increase from 44% to 66% of the total country population, from 1995 to 2025. Asia produces the largest amount of UFW, which is expected to increase from 251 million ton to 418 million ton (45% to 53% of total world UFW) from 1995 to 2025. On site treatment of UFW along with a limited movement of world population from rural to urban areas are suggested to reduce pressure on MS W management system for the upcoming decades.In this thesis, a project was also undertaken to develop compost recipes for urban center such as downtown Montreal. Monthly (June to August) average residential FW production was found to 0.61 (+/-0.13) kg capita-1 day-1 and that of a restaurant was found to be 0.56 (+/-0.23) kg customer-1 day-1. From trial tests, the best compost recipes mixed 8.9 kg, 8.6 kg and 7.8 kg of UFW for every kg of wheat straw, hay and wood shaving, on a wet mass basis. However, quantity and characteristics of FW vary from one month to another; therefore, regular adjustment of compost recipe is recommended. When using wood shavings as bulking agent, it is strongly recommended to correct the acid pH.
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Mohamed, Taha M. P. B. "Bioaerosol release from composting facilities." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2005. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/1978.
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The use of composting is expected to increase dramatically due to its economic and environmental benefits. For public health protection, regulators and licensing authorities are requesting risk assessments to be conducted prior to the development and operation of composting. Significant amounts of microrganisms can be aerosolised and transported by winds to points of exposure. However, the source term factors that influence their release and their dispersal are not fully understood. In this thesis a method to measure viable bioaerosols emission rates from static compost pile surfaces and during the agitation of compost was developed. The factors that influence the emission of bioaerosols from compost piles of different ages and during different agitation activities were evaluated. A wind tunnel analysis was successfully used to measure the surface flux bioaerosols emission rate. Newly estimated emission rates from various source terms were then modelled to produce source depletion curves. The surface emission flux of a static pile was estimated to be 102 to 104cfu/m2/s for both A. fumigatus and actinomycetes. The turning of compost releases the highest bioaerosols concentration range from 104 to 108cfu/s compared with the shredding and screening. The turning of an early stage compost windrow emitted the highest amount of bioaerosols. This study introduces a new method for quantifying bioaerosols dispersal, thus improving the risk assessments required for environmental permitting.
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Shepherd, Marion W. "The microbiological analysis of composting." Connect to this title online, 2007. http://etd.lib.clemson.edu/documents/1181669123/.
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Yates, Philippa Dawn. "Microbial ecology of windrow composting." Thesis, University of Hull, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.418762.
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Taha, Mohd Pauze Bin Mohamad. "Bioaerosol releases from composting facilities." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.427158.
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Joly, Elsa. "Comparison of home-composting and large-scale composting for organic waste management in Québec, Canada." Thesis, KTH, VA-teknik, Vatten, Avlopp och Avfall, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-96296.
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The management of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste has become a major issue lately in the province of Québec, Canada. Most of it is landfilled today, which increases the burden on landfills and is environmentally unsound. In order to comply with new government guidelines, municipalities have to develop solutions to recover and recycle organic waste. In this context, this study examines two solutions for treating organic waste: home-composting and a separate biodegradable waste collection system combined with large-scale composting. The two scenarios are compared in terms of costs and environmental performance to a reference scenario where all waste is landfilled, using as a case study a fictional city of 50 000 inhabitants. Results indicate that a centralized collection system, combined to large-scale composting, has greater environmental benefits than home-composting. It cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 240% compared to the reference scenario, while emissions from home-composting remain at the reference level. However, when compared to the reference scenario, home-composting reduces waste management costs by 15% while they represent an increase of 4% with large-scale composting. The study concludes that separate biodegradable waste collection combined to large-scale composting is the best way for a municipality to achieve high environmental goals, despite a slight increase of municipal costs. The participation rate of citizens is suggested to be a crucial parameter for the success of organic waste management in the two scenarios and it should be enhanced by different means to ensure the successful implementation of the chosen solution.
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Myers, Spencer Gabriel. "Effectiveness of Windrow Composting Methodology in Killing a Thermo-Tolerant Species of Salmonella During Mortality Composting." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2019. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2019.
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In a large agricultural operation, such as the one at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, disposal of deceased animals is an immense issue. The cost of transporting and rendering every dead animal is inhibitory to the general function of the agricultural operations and their thin budget. Therefore, we propose that composting mortalities could be an economical alternative. Composting is a recognized method for taking animal waste products along with carbon waste and turning it into a pathogen-free, nutrient-rich topsoil. Carcass composting is in fact performed in other countries and states to varying degrees of success. However, the California EPA limits carcass composing to only private land. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to determine the efficacy of killing pathogens by composting using bench top composting models. Ultimately, our goal is to provide “proof of concept” data in order to gain permission for a full-scale carcass compost pile to be set up at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Using thermo tolerant Salmonella senftenberg as an indicator organism, we performed bench top trials of traditional and carcass compost in the lab. Samples were inoculated with S. senftenberg and kept at 55°C for 15 days in accordance with the California EPA and Test Method for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC). Samples were then plated and processed for multiple tube analysis and most probable number. Samples were also partitioned for a viability qPCR with propidium monoazide (PMA) to compare to the classic techniques. Using these methods we were then able to track and produce thermal death time data for S. senftenberg in both traditional and carcass compost. By comparing the types of compost, we were able to determine that the composting method presented by the California EPA and the TMECC produces safe, pathogen free compost, even when inoculated carcasses were introduced. However, even with removal of dead cells by PMA, qPCR did not outperform the classical microbiological methods for as tracking pathogen killing.
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von, Fahnestock Frank Michael. "Niche applications of in-vessel composting." Connect to resource, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1127237412.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xvii, 233 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-192). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center
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Ducatel, Estelle. "Composting of ethane pyrolysis quench sludge." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape8/PQDD_0017/MQ48061.pdf.
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Short, Joe. "Composting and vermicomposting waste paper sludge." Thesis, Open University, 1999. http://oro.open.ac.uk/58000/.
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Increasing legislative and economic pressure to find more sustainable methods of organic waste management has fuelled innovation in biological treatment technology. By-products of paper manufacturing industries provide a large source of organic waste, which is known to have a high environmental impact. This waste paper sludge has been shown to be amenable to biological treatment. Recent research has confirmed that windrow-composting and vermicomposting techniques have potential to treat these wastes and share many economic and environmental benefits. Many authors have suggested that sludge specific composting methods need to be developed and this research aims to provide fundamental data in this respect. The treatment of specific waste paper sludges was investigated through small and larges calee xperimentsw ith the aim of optimising thesep rocessesw ith minimal intervention. Identical samples of a selected waste paper sludge feedstock were used in large scale investigations into the application of each composting technique, and the performance of each process and resulting products was evaluated. Windrow composting and vermicomposting were found to stabilise and enhance waste paper sludge in very different ways, producing unique products. In terms of processing, windrow composting resulted in more rapid rates of stabilisation and although the performance of the vermicomposting process was less effective in these respects, it afforded additional benefits as a treatment of waste paper sludge. Both processes were found to stabilise and enhance waste paper sludge but the selection of one system or the other will depend largely on the objectives of the project and the criteria required of the finished product.
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Hewings, Guy. "Design and management of composting systems." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2007. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55167/.
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Composting is an effective method of removing a large proportion of biodegradable waste from landfill. The CO2 produced by microbial activity demonstrates the rate of decomposition, and was measured in green waste composting in windrows, a forced aerated bay, an aerated test rig and related to the volatile solid content. The peak respiration rates were 35gC02kgVS",day"1 in windrows, and 290gCO2kgVS"1day"1 in the test rig. Knowing the rate of microbial activity, allows the volume of air required to supply sufficient oxygen to a composting matrix to be determined. Recently introduced treatment regulations require 100% of the waste in a composting system to be maintained above 60 or 70 C for minimum periods. Aeration management methods were evaluated that maximise the rate of temperature increase and distribute the heat generated by microbial activity. Managing re-circulated gases between set CO2 limits was demonstrated to an effective method of encouraging rapid temperature increase. Whilst the lowest recirculation rate of 40m3hr l per m3 of compost was required to ensure 100% of the compost matrix in the test rig was greater than 60 C. The research presented in this thesis demonstrates methods that will aid the design and management of any composting system, especially those treating catering waste.
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Zafar, Urooj. "Biodegradation of polyurethane under composting conditions." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2013. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/biodegradation-of-polyurethane-under-composting-conditions(0157c580-bffe-4b2f-a019-a7510fa3ac4e).html.
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Plastic are a highly durable, lightweight and low cost family of polymeric materials that form an essential and integral component of today’s world. Their continued world-wide large scale manufacture has led them to be a major component of man-made waste. A large proportion of plastic waste is directed to the landfill sites, however their low degradation rates, scarcity of landfill sites and growing water and land pollution problems require alternatives to be developed. Composting is a natural process involving aerobic decomposition of organic wastes by a mixed microbial consortium that involves thermophilic microbes during the process due to the heat generated during decomposition. In this study we investigated the biodegradation of polyurethane under composting conditions. Polyurethanes are heteropolymers with a wide range of applications in the medical, automotive, construction and domestic field and in Europe account for 7% of all plastic manufacture and have been shown to be susceptible to biodegradation, particularly by fungi. In this thesis, it was found that loss in tensile strength of >70% occurs at both mesophilic (25°C) and thermophilic (45° and 50°C) temperatures under laboratory conditions and so is susceptible to degradation at all stages of the composting process. Moreover, polyester PU buried in compost piles at a commercial composting site during the maturation phase of an in silo composting process also underwent substantial degradation. Non-culture based analysis by TRFLP, DGGE and 454 pyrosequencing revealed that the fungal communities colonising the surface of PU was substantially different from the surrounding compost indicating selection of fungi on the PU surface. Pyrosequencing revealed that under laboratory conditions, at 25°C Fusarium solani, and 45°C and 50°C, Candida ethanolica was the dominant organism recovered from the PU surface, whereas at the commercial composting site an unidentified fungal clone and Arthrographis kalrae were the dominant organisms recovered. When the microparticulate polyester PU dispersion impranil was added to compost, a substantial shift in the indigenous fungal population was observed along with an increase in fungal viable numbers, however, addition of larger solid PU had no lasting effect on the surrounding compost community. This study demonstrates that polyester PU is highly susceptible to degradation in during composting and indicates a future potential for directing PU wastes to existing commercial composting processes.
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Gunnarsdotter, Beck-Friis Barbro. "Emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane during composting of organic household waste /." Uppsala : Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniv.), 2001. http://epsilon.slu.se/avh/2001/91-576-5793-9.pdf.
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Kroening, Steven James. "Biodegradation and composting profiles of woolscour wastes." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/1483.
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This thesis investigated the final products from the current effluent treatment system for woolscouring (wool washing) plants, namely, (i) sludge produced from the chemical flocculation of solids in the wastewater from the wash bowls, and (ii) concentrated suint (sheep sweat) produced from evaporation of the liquid phase separated from the sludge. In addition, fibrous wastes from the woolscouring process were studied. The aims of the study were to (i) investigate whether suint could be applied in a sustainable way to arable land as a potassium fertiliser, and (ii) assess the conditions under which the sludge could be composted for use as a soil conditioner to return organic matter to soil. Experiments involving suint were performed at both laboratory and glasshouse scales, while experiments involving the solid woolscour wastes were based both in the laboratory and using a small-scale (4.5 m3 total capacity) in-vessel composting unit established at a New Zealand woolscour. Decomposition was measured using net-nitrogen mineralisation and weight loss methods. Suint, the water-soluble contaminants on the fleece, contained high levels of potassium (20% on a dry weight basis) and also appreciable quantities of sulphur, sodium, and chlorine. Biological treatment before evaporation stabilised the resulting suint and improved the consistency of its composition. Suint did not affect the soil processes examined, in that it partly decomposed in soil, did not inhibit the turnover of model organic compounds, did not affect soil properties such as pH and electrical conductivity, and did not lead to increased leaching of mineral nitrogen. Suint was either neutral or positive towards plant performance when applied to soil at a rate of 100 kg potassium per hectare. Suint was therefore judged to be suitable for application to land and could be targeted to soils known to be deficient in potassium or to areas where crops with a high potassium demand are grown. Sludge, composed of dirt (soil particles, faecal matter, and skin and fibre debris) and wool grease, was highly variable in terms of its rate of decomposition, ranging from 0.8 to 27.8% of the initial total nitrogen mineralised over 30 days at 37℃. Fibrous wastes, such as opener (fibre and contaminants removed from the wool by agitation prior to scouring) and scoured wool cleaner (wool fibre and dust removed from scoured and dried wool) wastes, also showed variability in decomposition rates. Sludge decomposition was improved by as much as threefold when co-incubated with fibrous wastes. Although it was shown that the polyacrylamide and pesticide content of sludge did not inhibit its decomposition, the effect of the grease content was not fully understood. Chemical properties of woolscour sludge, such as the carbon to nitrogen ratio, suggested that sludge was a substrate of good resource quality. From a biological perspective, however, the data suggested that woolscour sludge was limited in available nutrients; sludge nitrogen was derived principally from keratin, which decomposed at a low rate resulting in the slow release of mineral nitrogen and low levels of microbial activity. Thus, sludge appeared a poor substrate for composting. However, the results from composting trials indicated that the sludge could be successfully processed after blending with a bulking agent such as sawdust. The blended material showed a 90% reduction in wool grease over 21 days of composting when the moisture content of the composting mass was kept optimal. Compost temperature exceeded 55℃ when wool fibre was added to the blend. Initial results from a case study involving the commercial composting of the entire sludge production (16 tonnes per day) from a New Zealand woolscour indicated that a saleable compost could be produced from a material that would otherwise go to landfill, and served to illustrate the commercial significance of these research results.
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Mihial, Darrell J. "Bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil using composting." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/mq39146.pdf.
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Stebbins, J. Ryan. "Evaluation of Composting of Municipal Solid Waste." DigitalCommons@USU, 2014. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/2126.
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A field-scale commercial compost study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the Bio-Environmental Resource Recovery International (BERRI) Microbial Assisted Regeneration System (MARS) process, specifically its proprietary microbial inocula, on compost production of various agricultural waste and municipal solid waste (MSW) mixtures. Treated and control windrows were constructed to compare the MARS inoculum by quantity and quality of compost produced, organic stabilization time, and individual component sorting (i.e., green waste, wood, agriculture waste, food waste, MSW, C&D debris, and tires). Specific VOC and SVOC compounds, as well as a common pesticide, carbaryl, were added specifically for this study and the compounds were analyzed for degradation rates. The quality of the compost product was assessed using a method developed for classifying municipal solid waste compost. The quantity of compost produced was determined by screening the entire volumes of each pile to determine a gross production of compost for each pile. Compost samples were analyzed by headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry for VOCs, methylene chloride extraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry for SVOCs, and methanol extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for carbaryl. The quality of compost was found to have a very low nutrient capacity making the compost only useable as a soil conditioner. Treated piles showed a significantly larger amount of compost production and a decreased time for organic stabilization. No significant degradation of plastics or woods components was observed in any of the treatments used in the study.
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Konduru, Srinivasa Raju. "Biodegradable and composting plastic. Properties and environmental impacts." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2021.
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Packaging waste forms a big a part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental considerations, leading to a strengthening of varied rules aimed toward reducing the amounts generated. Among different materials, a good vary of oil-based polymers is presently employed in packaging applications. These are nearly all non-biodegradable, and a few are troubled to recycle or apply because of being advanced composites having variable levels of contamination. Recently, important progress has been created within the development of biodegradable plastics, for the most part from renewable natural resources, to provide biodegradable materials with similar practicality thereto of oil-based polymers. The enlargement within these bio-based materials has many potential advantages for greenhouse gas balances and different environmental impacts over whole life cycles and in the use of renewable, instead of finite resources. it's supposed that use of biodegradable materials can contribute to sustainability and reduction within the environmental impact related to disposal of oil-based polymers.
The diversity of biodegradable materials and their variable properties makes it trouble to create straightforward, generic assessments like biodegradable product are all ‘good’ or petrochemical-based product are all ‘bad’. during this analysis I'm aiming to discuss the benefits of bioplastics and their substitution potential with respect to petroleum-based materials, the production of bioplastics using scratch and environmental impacts of its composting.
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Critchley, John G. "Composting of soils contaminated with heavy petroleum hydrocarbons." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0016/MQ48146.pdf.
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趙繼馨 and Kai-hing Christine Chiu. "The role of composting in solid waste management." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1994. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31252813.
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Mountain, Teresa J. "The microbial leaching and composting of sewage sludge." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242868.
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Song, Qi Jun. "Elemental speciation in the composting process by ICPMS." Thesis, University of Hull, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.397887.
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Onyuka, Arthur. "Sustainable management of tannery hair waste through composting." Thesis, University of Northampton, 2010. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/3592/.
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Bovine hair, resulting from the unhairing of hides and skins, forms a major component of tannery solid wastes that is often disposed to landfill. However, following increasing environmental legislation restricting the disposal of commercial and industrial organic wastes to landfill, alternative treatment of tannery solid hair waste is necessary. The overall aim of this research was to develop conditions favourable for the decomposition of bovine hair waste in a composting environment. In this study, chemical pretreatments of bovine hair were carried out to enhance susceptibility to enzymatic digestion. Pretreatment using a combination of potassium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide enhanced enzymatic digestibility of hair. Comparative solubilisation of black, brown and white hair samples with sodium sulfide showed that, the percentage soluble nitrogen, from white hair was 73% (w/w) as compared to 28% (w/w) and 24% (w/w) of black and brown hair, respectively; indicating that white hair was more vulnerable to solubilisation. Although chemical pretreatment was effective, it was considered non-compatible with the composting process. Consequently, enzymatic and microbial degradation were considered suitable alternatives. The results of the preliminary biochemical studies indicated that, the breakdown of the hair structure was enhanced when treated with a combined protease solution containing proteinase K and trypsin enzymes as compared with individual enzymes. Enzymatic and microbial degradation of hair was observed to be preferential, starting with the least resistant components, in this sequence: (1) cell membrane, (2) endocuticle, (3) medulla, and (4) cytoplasmic material and fibrillar components of the cortex. The cuticle was most resistant to degradation. Synergistic action of microbial-expressed enzymes was observed to be the fundamental mechanism for the enhanced hair degradation. Composting of bovine hair, mixed with dry leaves, soil, and wood chips/sawdust was performed in a rotary drum under controlled conditions. Optimum conditions, in order to sustain thermophilic microbial flora, were found to be (1) a moisture content of 55-+2% RH, (2) pH 7-8, (3) temperature of 49-+ C, and (4) a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 35:1. Structural changes in hair, assessed during composting using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicated that degradation occurred under these conditions. Microscopy results further indicated that the addition of an inoculant, containing a microbial crude enzyme, expressed by the bacteria of Bacillus species, improved the biodegradation of hair during the controlled composting process. The compost stability evaluated by monitoring the humification parameters and carbon to nitrogen ratio, indicated that the final product reached the following values: degree of humification (73 - 78%), humification ratio (26 - 32%), humification index (0.29 - 0.35), and a carbon to nitrogen ratio (25 - 29). The high level of humification of the end-product indicated reasonable stability, suggesting the product from the composted bovine hair may be suitable, suggesting the product from the composted bovine hair may be suitable for agronomical purposes. The use of composting as alternative technology for the treatment of tannery solid bovine hair waste, as a value added product, has been demonstrated.
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Papp, Carolle. "Controlling food waste – Home composting or biofuel production?" Thesis, Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-22698.
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Ettsyfte med denna uppsats är jämförelsen mellan två behandlingsalternativ för matavfall, hemkompostering eller biogasproducering sett från klimatperspektivet. Koldioxidekvivalenter har beräknats för de två alternativen. Ett annat syfte har varit att studera den politiska processen för att förstå varför det först under 90-talet uppmuntras till att hushållen ska hemkompostera för att sen under början av 2000-talet förespråka rötning av matavfallet. Mina uträkningar och jämförelser visar att det är mer fördelaktigt för klimatet att röta matavfallet, koldioxidutsläppet blir mindre än vid hemkompostering. Mitt andra syfte visar att det kan finnas en klimatvinst genom att låta politiken fatta besluten men det kan även finnas en risk att det egentliga syftet med hemkompostering glöms bort och att hushållen måste betala för något som de egentligen inte behöver (matkärl) eller som inte kanske finns (tillsynen).One purpose of this study is to compare two treatment options for food waste. Home composting or biofuel production, seen from the climate perspective. The carbon dioxide equivalent has been calculated for the two options. The second purpose was to study the political process with regard to food waste to understand why Swedish households were encouraged to home compost food waste during the nineties only to early twenties advocate biofuel production. My calculations and comparisons shows that it is more beneficial for the climate to digest the food waste then composting since the carbon dioxide emissions is less. My second analysis indicates that while the political reorientation has led to environmental improvements, the effect has also been that to gain control of the food waste stream, waste management organisations effectively provide customers with no choice and economically punish households that have no food waste to collect since they have effective home composting.
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Fung, Shun On. "Reduction of odor generation through composting process control." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2007. http://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_ra/827.
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Méndez-Sánchez, Noemi C. Lange Clifford R. "Biodecolorization of paper mills wastewater using anaerobic composting." Auburn, Ala, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10415/1862.
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Chiu, Kai-hing Christine. "The role of composting in solid waste management /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13829798.
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Lasaridi, Konstadia Ekaterini. "Compost stability : a comparative evaluation of respirometric techniques." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.368055.
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Fenning, Garth. "Composting as a feasible approach to sustainable waste management." Thesis, Ulster University, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.399690.
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Cooper, Ashley. "Thermal Reduction of Common Food-Borne Pathogens During Composting." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/32093.
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Soil amended with manure has been implicated as a source of produce contamination leading to foodborne gastrointestinal-disease outbreaks. While current composting guidelines require temperatures ≥ 55°C for 3 days to destroy bacterial pathogens, these requirements have not been evaluated for all pathogens. Investigation of parasite survival in manure required development of a flow cytometry method integrating the cell-impermeant viability dye SytoX for simultaneous quantification and viability assessment of Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocysts/cysts. Further studies will be required to apply this method to investigate thermal reduction in parasites. Studies conducted with bacterial pathogens indicated that E. coli O157:H7 survived longer than other pathogens at 50°C to 55°C. Listeria monocytogenes survived significantly better in chicken manure compared to cow manure at 50°C to 55°C. Results suggest composting guidelines are adequate for bacterial pathogen reduction; however, testing for E. coli O157 along with Salmonella may increase confidence in compost safety.
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Zhan, Weiguo. "Static pile passive aeration composting of poultry manure slurry." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/6892.
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Static pile passive aeration composting (SPPAC) method is simple and economical. It can be applied to treat and stabilize animal wastes and reduce their adverse impact on the environment such as water, soil and air pollution. A study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of SPPAC process for poultry manure slurry treatment under high initial MC conditions, using peat and straw as the bulking agents. Four treatments were examined, two of which were mixtures of poultry manure slurry and peat with initial MC of 73 and 80%. The other two treatments consisted of poultry manure slurry and chopped straw with initial MC of 72 and 76%, these two treatments had similar performances and results. Three replicate piles were monitored simultaneously for each treatment. The piles were trapezoidal and 3.35m$\sp3$ in volume. Two open-ended perforated pipes were laid at the bottom of each pile to provide aeration. A total of 316 thermocouples were installed in the compost piles to monitor temperature over a period of four months. Within 5 days thermophilic temperatures over 45$\sp\circ$C were attained in the compost piles confirming that passive aeration was effective and exothermic composting reactions started rapidly. Temperature distribution results illustrated that air diffusion and convection were the predominant aeration mechanisms. Cluster analysis of the temperature results provided a depiction of passive aeration, i.e., the ambient air was drawn into the compost through the lower parts of the piles to fill the void created by the up-moving heated air in the system. The temperature results also confirmed that the perforated pipes in the bottom of each pile increased aeration only in their vicinity. The compost with high moisture was successfully handled using the SPPAC method, no symptoms of anaerobic conditions were recorded. Mass balance results showed that nitrogen loss was lower in the compost of higher MC and lower pH, maximum 37% and 50% from the peat compost and the straw compost, respectively. Based on the guidelines of the Ontario Ministry of Environment, the final compost contained high levels of essential plant nutrients, the percent of total of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was greater than 4%, and the heavy metal levels were low. The peat is a better bulking agent than the straw. The performance among the three replicate piles of each treatment was highly stable and reproducible. The composting process took 30 to 90 days for the process to finish depending on the amount of poultry manure slurry in the different treatments.
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Liang, Yi. "Nitrogen retention in the high rate stage of composting." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape2/PQDD_0011/NQ59621.pdf.
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Ginatta, Giovanni B. "Innovative development of composting operations in less developed countries." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/25425.
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Courvoisier, Pierre. "Mathematical modelling of composting processes using finite element method." Thesis, McGill University, 2011. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=103735.
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Composting is one element of waste management. It allows waste to be transformed into a valuable product. The processes involved and the final product, however, may vary in terms of quality, efficiency or security. Models have been established to represent some features of the composting process, but never all of them together. We hypothesized that all the key features from the literature could be gathered in one model. This model should be qualitatively faithful, reliable, and easily adapted to any situation. We used COMSOL TM, software that uses proven algorithms and the finite element method to solve partial differential equations in high spatial resolution in up to three dimensions. The behavior of this model was studied through parameter variations and sensitivity analysis. Patterns in temperature, biomass, substrate, oxygen and water concentration curves were consistent with the typical curves found in literature about composting. Initial water concentration and airflow were found to have an important impact on the composting process, while inlet air temperature did not. The resolution of the mathematical problem in a two-dimensional, longitudinal cross-section of the rectangular vessel allowed the observation of spatial patterns. This model can be used as a basis for further studies as new features are easy to implement. It can likewise be adapted to any apparatus, which makes it useful for comparative analysis. The suggested model, however, has yet to be validated against a physical system and this should be the next step.Le compostage est un composant de la gestion des déchets et permet de les transformer en un produit à valeur ajouté. Les procédés en jeu, ainsi que les produits finis peuvent cependant varier au niveau de la qualité, de l'efficacité, et de la sécurité. Des modèles ont été mis au point pour prendre en compte certaines caractéritiques du compostage, mais jamais de façon exhaustive. Notre hypothèse était que toutes les caractéristiques clés décrites dans la littérature peuvent être réunies en un seul modèle. Ce modèle doit être qualitativement fidèle, fiable, et facilement adaptable à toutes les situations. Nous avons utilisé COMSOL TM, un logiciel qui utilise des algorithmes établis et se base sur la méthode des éléments finis pour résoudre les systèmes d'équations différentielles partielles avec une bonne résolution spatiale en deux ou trois dimensions. La réponse de ce modèle face à des variations paramètriques et à une analyse de sensitivité a été étudiée. Les comportements de la température, de la biomasse, du substrat, de l'oxygène, et de la quantité d'eau ont été cohérents avec ceux trouvés dans la littérature sur le compostage. La concentration initiale en eau, ainsi que l'aération, ont été prouvés avoir un impact important sur le compostage, contrairement à la température de l'air entrant. La résolution du problème mathématique dans une coupe bidimensionnelle longitudinale du container rectangulaire permet l'observation de comportements spatiaux. Ce modèle pourra être utilisé comme un fondement pour de futures études car l'ajout de nouvelles caractéristiques y est aisé. Le modèle peut aussi être facilement adapté à différentes conditions expérimentales, ce qui en fait un bon outil comparatif. Cependant, le modèle suggéré doit d'abord être validé par des données expérimentales.
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Tamer, Vestlund Asli. "Characterisation and dispersal of bioaerosols emitted from composting facilities." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2009. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/6565.
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The role of sustainable and natural waste management processes such as composting are increasingly becoming more important in tackling the current environmental challenge of the amount of waste that is being produced. However a potential risk of composting facilities is the release and dispersal of bioaerosols that might result in adverse health effects in sensitive receptors. Therefore, environmental regulators request regulatory risk assessments from composting facilities that are within 250m of sensitive receptors to assess the risk posed by bioaerosols. The prior art in compost related bioaerosol release and dispersal assessment is not extensive and gaps in the understanding of bioaerosols at source, on release from composting facilities and at receptor remain. Therefore, this research was undertaken to address some of these gaps in the current knowledge and to improve the understanding of the characterisation and dispersal of bioaerosols emitted from compost. Therefore firstly two studies were completed in regards to the characterisation of bioaerosols emitted from compost, in particular in improving the understanding of their aggregation and size distribution. In this context, a novel methodology (the compost tumbler) was developed to release and measure bioaerosols in experimental conditions. Data was generated using a combination of culturing and scanning electron microscopy methods to characterise the aggregation and size distribution of bioaerosols emitted from compost. Secondly, site work was conducted to validate the results of these controlled experiments and characterise the aggregation and size distribution of bioaerosols emitted from composting facilities. These controlled experiments and site work showed evidence of aggregation in bioaerosols released from compost. However, the majority of these bioaerosols were in single cell units hence they are more likely to be dispersed for longer distances. Following this, other studies were conducted in regards to the dispersal of bioaerosols emitted from compost, in particular in improving the understanding of bioaerosol concentration prediction by air dispersion modelling. Firstly preliminary air dispersion modelling was completed to assess the ability of a commercial air dispersion model,ADMS 3.3, to predict bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities compared to bioaerosol concentrations measured by on-site downwind bioaerosol sampling. Folowing this, the sensitivities of ADMS 3.3 were analysed and the effect of different modelling parameters on predicted bioaerosol concentrations were assessed. Finally, a final assessment of the potential of ADMS 3.3 to predict bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities was conducted. The overall results from the modelling studies indicated that ADMS 3.3 was not able to consistently predict absolute downwind bioaerosol concentrations at composting facilities. However it was also concluded that ADMS 3.3 can be a useful tool for the initial screening and assessing relative changes of bioaerosols at a compost facility, provided that the detailed assessment of absolute bioaerosol emissions are made in conjunction with measurement of downwind bioaerosol concentrations. The research presented in this thesis makes a significant contribution to knowledge in terms of improving the understanding of the characterisation and dispersal of bioaerosols emitted from composting facilities.
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Stenbro-Olsen, Peter. "Studies on the microbial ecology of open windrow composting." Thesis, Abertay University, 1998. https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/5b944936-f6e9-4075-8d16-288248d3f69c.
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Due to the pressure of recent legislative changes (eg: the EU Landfill Directive and the imposition of a Landfill Tax), composting as a waste disposal technique is now being viewed as the preferred alternative to the landfilling of organic waste. However, while composting has been practised in one form or another for 2500 years, the underlying principles behind the microbial ecology of composting, is poorly understood. In order to obtain an insight into the ecology and hence, the critical nature of the composting process, a number of low cost open-windrows containing urban botanical wastes were established. These windrows were subjected to microbial and physico-chemical analysis over the initial period of exothermically active composting (25 days). This study demonstrated that, whilst average temperatures within open windrows can reach in excess of 65 °C, the sustainability and range of these temperatures depended upon the windrow bulk density. Windrows with bulk densities of 600kgm*3 had a larger insulation factor and thus, were able to sustain high temperatures for longer periods. However, these windrows were more susceptible to the development of areas of low temperature (cold spots) at depths below 20cm. Windrows with bulk densities of 400kgm'3 had smaller insulation factors and therefore, lost heat at a faster rate than windrows with higher bulk densities. This loss of heat was observed to be the case with the windrow surface layers, but they exhibited fewer cool spots at lower levels. This study found that the average microbial population of windrow material was 2.29x1013 CFU kg*1 and that each microbial cell could generate between 6.33 and 8.56xl0*13 Mjkg*1. This resulted in the generation of between 1.13 and 1.70 Mjkg*1 °C*1 of heat energy. Contrary to the published literature, this study observed that temperatures above 65 °C did not result in the significant loss of ammonia from the windrow. However, high levels of ammonia did suppress the formation of nitrate within the windrows. Experiments investigating microbial population kinetics within the windrows indicated that observed changes were proportional to temperature up to 60 °C, when a reduction in population numbers was observed between 60 °C and 65 °C. However, between 60 °C and 70 °C population levels increased once again. It was also noted that at the start of the composting process, 13 different microbial species or genera could be identified. However, after 17 days of exothermic composting, this had been reduced to 2 genera, including a novel large bacterial species belonging to the genus Bacillus. This study also showed that samples of windrows exposed to temperatures above 55 °C for 48 hours did not eliminate mesophilic or psycrotrophic microbial populations as previously assumed by other workers, but only suppressed their metabolism during the high temperature period.
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Lundgren, Kristina. "Impact of fly specific bacteria on fly larvae composting." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-377636.
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About one third of all edible food is wasted globally each year. This calls for improvements in resource and waste management. An interesting solution for organic waste is fly larvae composting, which both produces protein in the form of larvae and a nutrient rich residue. The larvae can be used as animal feed while the residue can be applied as an organic fertilizer, thus recycling the nutrients. Fly larvae composting with the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is relatively new, but there is extensive research on how the treatment is affected by different parameters, e.g. temperature, moisture and type of organic waste that is treated. The role of bacteria has only been the topic of a few studies in recent years but has shown promising positive effects on larval growth. This study investigated the impact of bacteria isolated from BSF eggs on fly larvae composting of food waste by BSF larvae. The study was done in two experimental phases. In phase I, groups of three bacteria were added to each treatment together with the larvae and only single treatments were executed; in phase II triplicates of promising groups of three, two or single bacteria were evaluated. The results of phase I suggested that selected groupings of bacteria could either decrease or increase the bioconversion ratio and in general decrease the reduction ratio of the food waste, while the survival ratio did not seem to be impacted. However, in phase II no significant difference (p<0.05) between the treatments with bacteria and the control were found for any evaluated variables. Interestingly, the variation in resulting bioconversion ratio and reduction ratio (on a VS basis) was found to be reduced when one or more bacteria were present. The coefficient of variation in bioconversion ratio was 9.5% for the control compared to between 2.5% and 6.1% for treatments with bacteria. For the reduction ratio the variation was reduced from 5.6% and to between 0.9% and 4.6% for the bacteria treatments. Hence, seeding with bacteria may improve stability of the process, which is especially interesting when scaling up the process.Globalt slängs ungefär en tredjedel av all ätbar mat. Därmed finns ett stort behov av säker och hållbar avfallshantering. En intressant lösning för organiskt avfall är fluglarvskompostering, som både producerar protein i form av larver och en näringsrik behandlingsrest. Larverna kan exempelvis användas som djurfoder medan behandlings-resten kan användas som gödselmedel, vilket innebär att näring kan återvinnas. Fluglarvskompostering med amerikansk vapenfluga (BSF), Hermetia illucens, är en relativt ny teknik men det finns redan omfattande forskning på hur olika processparametrar, t.ex. temperatur och vattenhalt, påverkar processen. Bakteriers roll har studerats endast i ett fåtal studier men de indikerar att tillsats av bakterier kan ha en positiv inverkan på larvernas tillväxt. Den här studien har därför undersökt hur tillsats av bakterier isolerade från BSF ägg påverkar fluglarvskompostering av matavfall med BSF larver. Studien gjordes i två experimentella delar. I fas I undersöktes effekten av tillsats av bakteriegrupper om tre bakterier till matavfallet samtidigt med larverna; i fas II utfördes triplikat av lovande bakteriegrupper med tre, två eller enstaka bakterier. Resultaten från fas I indikerade att olika bakteriegrupper antingen kunde höja eller sänka bioomvandlingskvoten och generellt gav en minskning i materialreduktions-kvoten medan överlevnadsgraden inte verkade påverkas i samma utsträckning. I fas II observerades däremot ingen signifikant skillnad (p<0,05) mellan någon av bakteriebehandlingarna och kontrollen för samtliga processvariabler. Variationen i resulterande bioomvandlingskvot och materialreduktionskvot (på VS basis) var dock lägre för bakteriebehandlingarna jämfört med kontrollen. Variationen i bioomvandlings-kvot var 9,5% för kontrollen jämfört med 2,5-6,1% för bakteriebehandlingarna. För materialreduktionskvoten minskade variationen från 5,6% till mellan 0,9% och 4,6%. Detta tyder på att tillsats av bakterier kan förbättra stabiliteten hos fluglarvskompostering, vilket är särskilt intressant vid uppskalning av processen.
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Oliveira, Tássio Brito de [UNESP]. "Fungi in pressmud composting: diversity, genomics and biotechnological aspects." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/146707.
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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
A torta de filtro é gerada após o processo de filtração do caldo de cana (cerca de 26 a 40 kg por t de cana) e geralmente é utilizada como fertilizante nas lavouras sem qualquer tratamento prévio. A diversidade de fungos presentes na torta de filtro fresca e no processo de compostagem desse substrato foi acessada utilizando sequenciamento em larga escala. Além disso, fungos tolerantes ao calor foram isolados e avaliados quanto à capacidade de produzir enzimas de degradação da biomassa (celulase, xilanase, lacase e poligalacturonase). Considerando que esse grupo de fungos carece de uma revisão taxonômica atual, aproveitamos as recentes mudanças proporcionadas pelo Código de Nomenclatura para Algas, Fungos e Plantas para gerar uma revisão taxonômica do grupo. Uma gama de patógenos oportunistas foi encontrada entre os taxa mais abundantes na torta de filtro fresca, como Lomentospora prolificans (43,13%), Trichosporon sp. (10,07%), Candida tropicalis (7,91%) e Hormographiella aspergillata (8,19%). Isso indica que a torta de filtro pode ser uma potencial fonte de fungos patogênicos, apresentando riscos para a saúde humana se aplicado como fertilizante sem qualquer tratamento. No entanto, o processo de compostagem reduz efetivamente a carga desses fungos. Além disso, cria um ambiente interessante para fungos capazes de produzir enzimas com potencial aplicação biotecnológica, uma vez que todos os 110 isolados avaliados foram capazes de produzir, pelo menos, uma das enzimas avaliadas. Além disso, a análise comparativa de genes codificantes para peptidases presentes nos genomas de fungos termofílicos (encontrados em sistemas de compostagem) e mesofílicos mostrou que a termofilia levou à várias adaptações para a termoestablidade enzimática.
Pressmud is derived from sugarcane juice filtrate (around 26 to 40 kg per ton of sugarcane) and it is mainly used as fertilizer in crops without prior treatment. Here, the fungal diversity present in both fresh and composting pressmud was revealed by 454 pyrosequencing. In addition, heat-tolerant fungi were isolated and surveyed for their repertoire of biomass-degrading enzymes (cellulase, xylanase, laccase and polygalacturonase). The fact that the taxonomy of such organisms is still obscure, we revised their taxonomy in the light of the recent changes adopted in the Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants. A wide range of opportunistic pathogens was found among the most abundant taxa in fresh pressmud, such as Lomentospora prolificans (43.13%), Trichosporon sp. (10.07%), Candida tropicalis (7.91%), and Hormographiella aspergillata (8.19%). This indicates that fresh pressmud may be a source of human pathogenic fungi, presenting a potential threat to human health if applied as fertilizer without treatment. Composting of the pressmud effectively reduces the load of such fungi. Furthermore, the composting system creates an interesting environment for fungi able to produce enzymes with biotechnological applications, since all the 110 isolates screened were able to produce at least one of the tested enzymes.Furthermore, comparative analysis of peptidases genes encoded by thermophilic (generally found in composting systems) and mesophilic fungi showed that thermophyly selected for thermostable enzymes.
FAPESP: 2012/14594-7
FAPESP: 2015/25252-8
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Chan, Man Ting. "Optimizing food waste composting process in fed-batch composter." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2015. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/217.
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Composting is considered as an effective and sustainable food waste treatment technology from the perspectives of volume reduction, stabilization and releasing the pressure on landfills. Community composter is a decentralized composting facility in fed-batch operational mode which is usually being installed in the backyard of institutes, hospitals, housing estate etc. to handle the food wastes generated daily. Albeit numerous operational issues including high initial acidity and oil content, poor decomposition and odor generation are commonly encountered in these facilities, which make it difficult to be accepted by the public. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to develop a composting mix formulation that can provide a solution to all these issues in a fed-batch food waste composting process. The first phase of this study aims at finding out an optimized formulation in a batch-scale food waste composting process through the use of alkaline amendments and microbial inoculum. For the first two experiments, artificial food wastes were prepared by mixing 1.3kg bread, 1kg boiled rice, 1kg cabbage, 0.5kg fully boiled pork and mixed with sawdust to obtain a C/N of 30 and adjusted moisture of the mixtures to 55%. The effect of different concentrations of zeolite compared to lime was studied in the first experiment. Zeolite was amended with food wastes and sawdust mixtures at 2% (ZI-2), 5% (ZI-5), 10% (ZI-10) to compare with lime in 2.25% (L-2.25) w/w (dry weight basis) and composted for 56 days. Results demonstrated that 10% of zeolite was optimal amendment rate compared to lower dosage of zeolite (2% & 5%) with stronger pH buffering capacity and greater decomposition efficiency. Addition of 2.25% of lime buffered the pH efficiently but increased the ammonia loss significantly which eventually reduced total nitrogen (TN) content of final product and posed odor emission problem. Amendment of 10% zeolite provided a higher adsorption affinity on ammonia resulting in 2.05% of TN value of final product which was higher than 1.72% of lime treatment. Furthermore, significantly higher seed germination 150% was achieved of ZI-10 compost compared to 135% of L-2.25 due to low ammonium content of product. The first experiment showed that application of less than 10% zeolite was not sufficient to buffer the acidity; as a result, organic matter decomposition was inhibited. However, the cost and reduction in treatment percentage of food waste in 10% application rate of zeolite is an issue of concern. To tackle this dilemma, food waste was amended with struvite salts at 1:2 molar ratio of MgO and K2HPO4 (Mg:P) with or without zeolite amended at either 5% or 10% amendment (Mg:P, Z5 + Mg:P & Z10 + Mg:P) and a control treatment with food waste only was also included. Results showed that treatment of Z10 + Mg:P was synergistically achieved of pH and EC buffering, and N conservation but not for the case of 5 % zeolite. Treatment of Z10 + Mg:P further reduced the N loss to 18% compared to 25% and 27% of Mg:P and Z5 + Mg:P respectively. However, there was insignificant difference in the final nitrogen content and decomposition rate among all treatments with struvite salts amendment. Comparing to the treatment of Z-10 of the first experiment to Z10 + Mg:P of the second experiment, Z-10 showed superior performance since better decomposition efficiency, shorter time to require to pass the GI (28 Days) and lower cost because of salts exclusion. To develop a multipurpose formulation for the fed-batch operational food waste composter, high lipids problem in food waste cannot be neglected because it is a critical factor to hinder the decomposition efficiency. Inoculation of oil degradative microorganisms was reported as an effective approach to facilitate the lipids. Therefore, the third experiment was to investigate the overall composting performance supplemented with 10% zeolite and microbial consortium. 10% zeolite with bacterial consortium significantly reduced the lipid contents from 7% to 1% compared to control treatments. Furthermore, treatments amended with 10% zeolite was proved to reduce ammonia emission and total volatile fatty acids level in the composting mass, therefore the total odor emission level can be reduced. Zeolite at 10% was found to be a suitable optimum additive for both synthetic and real-food wastes. Therefore, treatment of 10% zeolite with bacterial consortium is selected as an optimized formulation for further study of its application in a fed-batch composter. Following the food waste zeolite composting formulation obtained in Phase I, the aim of Phase II was to develop an ideal composting mix formulation for on-site commercial composters. Although the results have been demonstrated 10% zeolite with bacterial consortium facilitated the composting efficiency in batch composter, those amendments may be over-estimated if applied in a fed batch composter by using real food wastes. With this constraint, the applicability of these additives in commercial fed-batch composter needs to be assessed using locally generated food wastes. Treatments included food waste and sawdust mixtures at 4:1 mixing ratio (wet weight basis) were mixed with 2.25% of lime (L2.25), 10% of zeolite (Z10) and 10% zeolite with bacterial inoculum (Z10+O) and a control of food waste with sawdust mixture only was also included. 35 kg compost mixture was fed into each composter respectively daily for a period of 42 days. Only Z10+O was the most suitable composting mix for fed-batch food waste composting process with continuous sustained high temperature (55-60oC), optimal moisture (55%-60%), alkaline pH and low EC during the experimental period. Bacterial inoculum significantly improved the lipids decomposition from 22.16% (C) to 3.10% (Z10+O) after the composting period. In contrast, lime and zeolite alone treatments could not maintain the optimal pH that led to reduce degradation and longer stabilization period. Only compost taken from Z10+O treatment could be classified as mature compost. The aim of the third study phase was to examine an optimal application rate of food waste compost produced from decentralized food waste composter for plant. A plant growth experiment was conducted in this phase to evaluate the change in soil properties and plant growth of Brassica chinensis and Lycopersicon esculentum. The experiment was conducted in a loamy soil amended with 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% food waste compost amendment rate compared to the control soil with chemical fertilizer amendment only. Results indicated that 5% was the optimal application rate of food waste compost for both crops among all treatments which can be evidenced by the highest biomass production and nutrients value of the plant tissues. Plant available nutrients such as NH4+, NO3-, PO43- were proportionally increased with increase in compost application rate. However, 2.5% of the food waste compost did not provide sufficient nutrients for plant growth and 10% showed negative effects due to increased salts content. Plants amended with chemical fertilizer had relatively low biomass production compared to compost amended treatments due to soil compaction and fast leaching of nutrients. It can be concluded that application of 10% zeolite with microbial consortium is an ideal composting mix formulation for on-site commercial composters and 5% is an optimal application rate of food waste compost of Brassica chinensis and Lycopersicon esculentum
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Nguyen, Thanh Phong, and Carsten Cuhls. "Methane removal using materials from biofilters at composting plants." Technische Universität Dresden, 2018. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A33315.
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Methane (CH4) source of Greenhouse Gases should be considered; CH4 is formed by composting under anaerobic conditions. Using microbial Methane oxidation is a solution with low cost and effective. In this study, 27 bio-filters and 18 laboratory-scale bioreactors were used to investigate the potential for CH4 removal in biogas. The CH4, Dinitrogen monoxide (N2O) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the air purifier were measured by gas chromatography. The results showed that the CH4 concentration decreased in experiments while the CO2 and N2O content increased in all experiments. An experiment was conducted with 1 kg of biofilter material with the input of 800 ppm CH4 contained in a 5-liter flask for 49 hours containing. The results also showed that the CH4 concentration decreased by 71% after 20 hours and N2O was formed in the reactor.Mê-tan (CH4) là nguồn khí gây nên hiệu ứng nhà kính cần được quan tâm, khí CH4 được sinh ra trong quá trình ủ vi sinh trong điều kiện kị khí. Một giải pháp với chi phí thấp là sử dụng vi sinh vật oxy hóa khí CH4 cố định trên giá thể là vật liệu sử dụng trong thiết bị lọc sinh học. Trong nghiên cứu này, 27 thiết bị lọc sinh học trên thực tế và 19 bình lọc tại phòng thí nghiệm đã được sử dụng nhằm mục đích khảo sát khả năng loại bỏ CH4 có trong khí sinh học. Nồng độ khí CH4, N2O và CO2 ở đầu vào và đầu ra bể lọc khí được đo đạc bằng phương pháp sắc ký khí. Kết quả cho thấy nồng độ khí CH4 giảm sau khi qua hệ thống lọc sinh học ở một số bình, trong khi nồng độ khí CO2 và N2O lại tăng lên ở tất cả các bình. Khi khảo sát khả năng oxi hóa CH4 ở nồng độ 800 ppm của 1kg vật liệu thiết bị lọc sinh học chứa trong bình phản ứng thể tích 5L với thời gian 49 giờ. Kết quả cho thấy nồng nồng độ CH4 giảm 71% sau 20 giờ. Tuy nhiên, N2O đã được ghi nhận có hình thành trong bình phản ứng đó.
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Pickens, Mark Everett. "Design and Validation of an Automated Multiunit Composting System." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2009. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12184/.
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This thesis covers the design of an automated multiunit composting system (AMUCS) that was constructed to meet the experimental apparatus requirements of the ASTM D5338 standard. The design of the AMUCS is discussed in full detail and validated with two experiments. The first experiment was used to validate the operation of the AMUCS with a 15 day experiment. During this experiment visual observations were made to visually observe degradation. Thermal properties and stability tests were performed to quantify the effects of degradation on the polymer samples, and the carbon metabolized from the degradation of samples was measured. The second experiment used the AMUCS to determine the effect of synthetic clay nanofiller on the aerobic biodegradability behavior of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate).
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Pickens, Mark Everett Vaidyanathan Vijay Varadarajan. "Design and validation of an automated multiunit composting system." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2009. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12184.
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Irvine, Richard John. "Temperature and physical modelling studies of open windrow composting." Thesis, Abertay University, 2002. https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/bd4b95a9-3587-41ab-b3de-60628fe5f63b.
Full textAbstract:
There is a growing demand for sustainable forms of waste management due to both legislative pressures (e.g. the European Union Landfill Directive (99/31/EC)) and increasing public awareness of environmental issues. Composting of biodegradable waste materials to produce a stabilized beneficial multi-functional product (compost) is being widely promoted. Currently, the most popular method of composting is the open windrow method, whereby the mixed and shredded feedstocks are arranged in long rows termed windrows and turned on a regular basis. During the process the waste material is subject to aerobic exothermic microbial decomposition. Commercial composting operations suffer from the problem that much of the processing is performed using empirical approaches. Improved understanding of the composting process based on scientific methodology is required to allow composting to develop its potential as an economic, safe and reliable method of sustainable waste management. This study used a series of large scale windrow-based seasonal field trials employing urban green waste as a feedstock, to investigate in unprecedented detail the temperature trends and patterns of behaviour within such structures. In addition physical-chemical profiling was undertaken. It demonstrated that windrow temperature development is not uniform in either a spatial or temporal sense. Temperature variation is a key feature of composting. All regions of typical windrows exhibited thermophilic and mesophilic temperature zones throughout the composting process. There was little seasonal variation. Sustained high temperatures were most widespread in the core regions at a height of around lm. Thus, these areas should not be favoured during temperature assessment to avoid bias results. It was demonstrated that current methods of temperature assessment are inadequate. It is suggested that greater numbers of data points are collected at varying positions and instead of simply calculating overall mean temperature that individual trends are plotted. The use of temperature frequency distribution histograms and cumulative temperature plots is additionally advised. Increased windspeed (greater than approximately 15MPH) was demonstrated to be a major factor preventing the development and sustaining of thermophilic temperatures within windrows. It is recommended that commercial composters routinely assess windspeed and direction. Changes in organic matter content, bulk density and pH provided an indication of the composting process in the long term but lacked the sensitivity of temperature measurement. Surveying using electronic tacheometry allowed changes in windrow shape and volume to be assessed. The field trial data allowed a novel physical compost model to be developed, based upon open windrow composting of urban green waste. Existing models are based on in-vessel composting systems and are technically flawed in certain key aspects. The model successfully simulated the initial stages of windrow composting, which was proven by experimentation and comparison with field trial data. The use of low level internal feedstock heating was demonstrated to be a viable method of stimulating natural enhanced microbial activity. A non- insulated model windrow and the employment of an environmental simulation system allowed the natural relationship between windrow and external environment to be modelled. The importance of such a model to the compost scientist and waste manager is highlighted. The study showed that it is possible to successfully physically model the open windrow composting process.
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Francois, A. Joyce. "Composting phosphorus fertilizer with organic wastes to stablize the fertilizer against fixation by phosphate-fixing soils." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.236297.
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Ugwuanyi, Jeremiah Obeta. "Aerobic thermophilic digestion of model agricultural wastes." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.366924.
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Sartaj, Majid. "Comparative study of methods of aeration for composting manure slurries." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/9842.
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Composting is a simple and economically attractive method to treat and stabilize animal waste slurries. However, a comparison of different methods of aeration for composting under high moisture content (MC) and the influence zones of the aeration pipes have not been reported in the literature. Therefore, a large scale study was conducted to investigate and compare the performance of three modes of aeration, namely natural, passive and forced aeration. A total of 9 piles, 3 replicates for each treatment, were built in trapezoidal shape with a volume of 5.03 m$\sp3$ each and monitored for a period of 90 days. Peat was used as the bulking agent. Initial MC of raw compost was 76%. A total of 233 thermocouples were built and installed in the compost piles to monitor the temperature profiles and distribution. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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Beyene, Mulubrhan. "The feasibility of biosolids composting for the City of Winnipeg." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ32054.pdf.
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Ge, Bin. "Efficacy of composting to decontaminate Cryptococcus gattii-colonized plant waste." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/36534.
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Cryptococcus gattii is a human fungal pathogen that emerged on Vancouver Island, BC in 1999. This study aimed to investigate C. gattii survival in composting systems and occupational exposure to C. gattii in work tasks associated with composting. The presence of C. gattii was monitored in composting feedstock and product for one calendar year in a municipal composting facility in Cumberland, BC. Additionally, the survival of an environmental C. gattii isolate was tested in a composting experiment conducted with custom-designed composters that simulated in-vessel composting and home backyard composting. Potential inhalation occupational exposure to C. gattii while performing composting-related tasks were measured during residential yard waste chipping by city workers in Parksville, BC and during the composting experiment where C. gattii contaminated feedstock was composted. C. gattii persisted through three out of five in-vessel composting trials despite high composting temperatures (mean > 60ºC, peak 85ºC) which were achieved evenly throughout the composting material for long periods (> 65 hours). C. gattii was also detected in one out of two yard composting trials after 60 days of composting. The year-long composting feedstock and compost monitoring for C. gattii returned no positive samples. Air sampling during composting-related work tasks found no detectable level of C. gattii. Current composting standard and practice in BC are unlikely to be adequate in eliminating C. gattii from contaminated composting feedstock. Based on the results of this study, the risks of occupational exposure to C. gattii during residential yard waste chipping and composting of contaminated material are low.
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Adhikari, Bijaya. "Onsite treatment of urban organic waste using home composting systems." Thesis, McGill University, 2012. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=106314.
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On-site treatment (home and community composting) of organic waste (OW) reduces cost and environmental issues as opposed to centralized facilities and landfilling. By 2025, such on-site practices could reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GGE) by 50 and 40 %, respectively, and save land as compared to maintaining landfilling practices. However, the shift of municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems from landfill disposal to resource recovery requires technological input, population participation and compost quality assurance. The composting process and quality of composted product depends on the initial compost mixture formulation, design type and management practices of home composting systems (HC). A project was therefore conducted both in the laboratory and in the field, to establish a home composter design and compost formula, which favours the best organic waste decomposition. The results indicated that home composter design is important: perforations must be concentrated at the top and bottom to provide an aeration level equivalent to that of a ground pile. Such home composters can reach thermophilic temperatures when fed at least 10 kg (week)-1 of organic waste with a dry matter content over 15 % (half yard trimmings and half food waste). The compost produced generally offers acceptable levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, but residents must be careful in applying the right amount of garden herbicides. The total GGE from home composters were found to be equivalent to that of centralized composting facilities but eliminate the need to spend energy equivalent to 50 kg CO2-eq (tonne wet waste)-1 for handling and processing.Le traitement des matières résiduelles organiques (MRO) sur place (centres communautaires de compostage et composteurs maison) est une approche qui réduit les coûts de manipulation et de procédé associés aux centres régionaux de compostage et à l'enfouissement. D'ici 2025 et comparativement à l'enfouissement, cette approche pourrait diminuer les coûts de traitement et les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) de 50 et 40 %, respectivement. D'autre part, la diversion et le recyclage des MRO exigent des connaissances techniques et la participation des gens pour assurer la qualité sanitaire du produit, qui dépend du mélange initial, et de la conception du composteur maison ainsi que de sa gestion. Un projet fut donc réalisé en laboratoire et sur le terrain, dans le but de déterminer les critères de conception des composteurs maison et la formulation du mélange initial qui favorisent la décomposition et la stabilisation des MRO traitées. Les résultats ont démontré que la conception du composteur maison est importante, surtout en ce qui concerne l'emplacement des ouvertures qui, quand concentrées dans le haut et le bas, favorisent l'aération par convection. Cette configuration d'ouvertures fait en sorte que le composteur peut atteindre des température thermophiles, semblables aux amas au sol, s'il est chargé de plus de 10 kg (semaine)-1 de MRO possédant une matière sèche de plus de 15 % (moitié résidus de jardin et résidus de table). Le compost produit par résident est généralement propre, avec de faibles teneurs en hydrocarbures aromatique polycyclique (HAP) et en métaux lourds, à la condition d'appliquer des herbicides jardins en quantités raisonnables. Comparativement aux centres régionaux de compostage, les composteurs maison générent la même quantité de gaz à effet de serre (GES) mais font économiser 50 kg de CO2-équ. (tonne de matières résiduelles humides compostées)-1 en tant qu'énergie de manipulation et de procédé.
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Harris, Daniel. "Redesign and Development of HotRot1811 Composting Unit and Ancillary Item." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Engineering Management, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/7459.
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This project investigated alternative materials, methods and processes to reduce manufacturing costs while improving the marketability and performance of the HotRot1811 compost machine. Some of the redesign aspects include investigating alternative insulation materials, corrosion within the vessel, stress and strain gauge testing of the shaft and tines, and alternative design considerations.
Another aspect of the project is to test and develop a compost classifier. The compost classifier is used for separating contaminants from compost which could be an alternative technology HotRot Organic Solutions Ltd may produce.
This report describes the findings, recommendations and conclusions of these investigations.