Composting Management: a New Process Control Through O2 Feedback

Bertoldi, M.; Rutili, A.; Citterio, Barbara; Civilini, M.

doi:10.1177/0734242x8800600141

Cited by 43 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Therefore, the implication is that strict O 2 concentration control would help balance oxygen transport and heat dissipation. In this paper, the 10% oxygen concentration was found to be the best option even though previous research advised having a minimum level of 15% (De Bertoldi et al, 1988;Miller, 1993). The moisture of the mixtures was maintained nearly constant throughout the three experiments (Fig.…”

Section: The Effect Of Oxygen Concentrationmentioning

confidence: 80%

Domestic sewage sludge composting in a rotary drum reactor: Optimizing the thermophilic stage

Rodríguez

Cerrillo

García-Albiach³

et al. 2012

Journal of Environmental Management

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Section: The Effect Of Oxygen Concentrationmentioning

confidence: 80%

Domestic sewage sludge composting in a rotary drum reactor: Optimizing the thermophilic stage

Rodríguez

Cerrillo

García-Albiach³

et al. 2012

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…Magalhaes et al (1993) developed smaller vessels (0.4 L with an A:V of 0.88 cm -1 ) and compared the performance of the smaller reactors to that of Hogan et al (1989). Other bench-scale apparatus have also been used to investigate different process control strategies utilizing temperature and oxygen feedback (Vallini et al 1989) and oxygen feedback alone (de Bertoldi et al 1988). Although all these systems were successful in monitoring and controlling the thermodynamic and biological regimes, none considered compressive settlement, a factor that could significantly effect the free air space (FAS) within the composting matrix.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a Biocell to Measure Effect of Compressive Settlement on Free Air Space and Microbial Activity In Windrow Composting

McCartney

Chen

2001

Compost Science & Utilization

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This paper describes the first equipment developed to include compressive loads in a physical model of the composting environment. This new type of composting reactor was named a biological load cell, or biocell for short. Our hypothesis was that the exclusion of compressive settlement in existing physical models may lead to errors if the data is used to design full-scale windrow composting facilities. Municipal biosolids were mixed with three organic amendments (wood chips, straw, and leaves) to yield mixture moisture contents of 55%. Compressive settlement analyses were completed by subjecting the mixtures to loads of 0, 4.3, 8.6, and 12.9 kPa using biocells. The effect of compressive settlement on microbial activity was investigated using the biosolids:leaf mixture under loaded (12.9 kPa) and unloaded conditions. The settlement behavior of all three mixtures was found to fit established soil compaction equations and new equations were developed to represent the vertical free air space (FAS) and bulk density profiles in composting systems. The FAS profiles indicated that existing physical models do not simulate the FAS conditions within a composting matrix and significant differences in microbial activity were observed between loaded and unloaded biocells. The microbial activity differences were attributed to the reduced FAS within the loaded biocells, which, in consequence, lead to lower pore space oxygen concentrations. It proved difficult, however, to simulate the air flow regime within a windrow composting matrix. To further develop the biocells, there is a need to investigate the in-situ stress conditions and natural draft ventilation rates of full-scale windrow systems. While further work is required to perfect the biocells as a physical model of the windrow composting environment, it has demonstrated its potential use for FAS analysis and as a standard bulk density apparatus. Using biocells, it is recommended that FAS curves be developed for a wide range of feedstock recipes. The biocell apparatus could also be developed as a standard bulk density test apparatus. Other important conclusions drawn from the work include: leaves should not be used as a bulking agent; wood chips showed superior bulking properties and are recommended for use in very high (3.7 m) windrows; straw showed intermediate bulking properties and should not be used for high windrows without further investigation; for all materials, compaction occurred rapidly after each incremental load, suggesting that windrow turning will do little to alleviate a low FAS problem associated with an incorrect composting recipe.

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“…1981;Finstein et a l . 1983;Kuter et al 1985;Finstein et al 1986;de Bertoldi et al 1988). Recent composting (decomposition) studies have provided information on microbial activity which is useful in the design of controlled systems (Hogan et Miller et al 198917).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composting based on moderately thermophilic and aerobic conditions for the production of commercial mushroom growing compost

Miller¹,

Harper²,

Macauley³

et al. 1990

Aust. J. Exp. Agric.

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Mushroom compost was prepared using an enclosed, environmentally controlled composting (ECC) method, designed to promote rapid substrate d e c o n~p o s i t i o n and subsequent establishment of ecological conditions favourable to mushroom culture. Composting aerobically. usually at 54OC early in processing followed by 47OC for the majority of processing. produced a compost ready for spawning in 6-8 days. Final c o m p o s t had a bulk density of 486 kg/ni.i (range 440-510 kg/ni3) at 70.4% moisture (range 66-75%) and produced average fresh mushroom yields of 19.4 kg per bed m2 (range 22.7-17.3/m2), or 0.66 kg per kg dry compost, in a 3 flush cropping cycle. Disease, or growth of competitive fungi, was not observed. Composting odours were greatly reduced compared to traditional methods. The processing control and uniformity of the ECC method offer much potential for detailed investigation into compost production and ecological and chemical factors in mushrooni nutrition.

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Composting Management: a New Process Control Through O2 Feedback

Cited by 43 publications

References 18 publications

Domestic sewage sludge composting in a rotary drum reactor: Optimizing the thermophilic stage

Domestic sewage sludge composting in a rotary drum reactor: Optimizing the thermophilic stage

Using a Biocell to Measure Effect of Compressive Settlement on Free Air Space and Microbial Activity In Windrow Composting

Composting based on moderately thermophilic and aerobic conditions for the production of commercial mushroom growing compost

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