A systematic study of the gaseous emissions from biosolids composting: raw sludge versus anaerobically digested sludge

Bioresour Technol. 2013 Nov:147:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.118. Epub 2013 Jul 29.

Abstract

Volatile organic compound (VOC) and ammonia, that contribute to odor pollution, and methane and nitrous oxide, with an important greenhouse effect, are compounds present in gaseous emission from waste treatment installations, including composting plants. In this work, gaseous emissions from the composting of raw (RS) and anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) have been investigated and compared at pilot scale aiming to provide emission factors and to identify the different VOC families present. CH4 and N2O emissions were higher in ADS composting (0.73 and 0.55 kg Mg(-1) sludge, respectively) than in RS composting (0.01 kg Mg(-1) sludge for both CH4 and N2O). NH3 and VOCs emitted were higher during the RS composting process (19.37 and 0.21 kg Mg(-1) sludge, respectively) than in ADS composting (0.16 and 0.04 kg Mg(-1) sludge). Significant differences were found in the VOC compositions emitted in ADS and RS composting, being more diverse in RS than ADS composting.

Keywords: ADS; Composting; DOM; DRI; DVB; GC–MS; GHG; Gaseous emissions; Greenhouse gases; IS; OUR; PDMS; RS; SPME; Sludge; VOC; anaerobically digested sludge; dissolved organic matter; divinylbenzene; dynamic respiration index; gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; greenhouse gas; internal standard; oxygen uptake rate; polydimethylsiloxane; raw sludge; solid phase micro extraction; volatile organic compound.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Gases / chemistry*
  • Sewage*
  • Soil
  • Solid Phase Microextraction
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis

Substances

  • Gases
  • Sewage
  • Soil
  • Volatile Organic Compounds