Pollution Research Paper

Vol. 35, Issue 2, 2016; Page No.(343-352 )

OPTIMIZING COMPOSTING FACTORS TO REDUCE LOSS OF NITROGEN IN CONDENSATE DURING CO-COMPOSTING OF MSW AND BREWERY SLUDGE

A.V. HEMA NALINI, P.R. SREEMAHADEVAN PILLAI AND Y.V.K.S. RAO

Abstract

Condensates in in-vessel composting systems are formed when the hot exhaust air from the system comes in contact with a cold surface. The hot air may contain gases of decomposition of composting materials containing carbon and nitrogen. The major gases produced during composting are carbon dioxide as a result of decomposition of carbon containing materials and different forms of nitrogen gases due to the decomposition of nitrogen containing materials. The escape of various forms of nitrogen gases can contribute total nitrogen in the condensate, which may depend upon the composting factors, thereby reducing nitrogen content in the compost affecting the fertilizing capacity of the product. In order to produce quality compost it is necessary to reduce the loss of nitrogen through exhaust gases. This study deals with the determination of optimal levels of five factors namely A: the percentage of brewery sludge (20, 30), B: amendment type (cow dung, coconut pith), C: C/N ratio (15, 30), D: starting culture (without, with) and E: aeration rate (0.3 L/min/kg, 0.45 L/min/kg) at two levels, and the interaction of factors, in reducing total nitrogen present in the condensate during the co-composting of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and brewery sludge (BS) using Taguchi’s experimental design with an L8 orthogonal array having 8 trials. An in-vessel batch type composting reactor was used for conducting the experiment. Temperature in the reactor is continuously monitored at regular intervals till the end of composting. The condensate produced in the reactor was analyzed for pH, conductivity, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen and total nitrogen at two days interval for all the trials. Total nitrogen for each trial was kept as the responses for SN analysis. The optimal levels of the factors for reducing total nitrogen in the condensate for smaller the better criterion is A2C2D1E2. Factor B is the least significant factor and therefore it is pooled in the analysis. Analysis of variance shows that the most significant factor influencing the reduction of total nitrogen in the condensate is the interaction between brewery sludge and C/N ratio.

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