Analysis of aerobic digestion process of domestic solid waste

Abstract

Compo sting is generally achieved by converting solid waste into stable humus like materials via biodegradation of putrescible organic .materials generally in presence of oxygen. The microorganisms involved in solid waste composting include facultative and strict aerobic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. The end product, the compost, can be used as soil conditioner. It can divert a significant portion of organic waste from municipal collection services and from final disposal site, and therefore, enhances both economic and environmental sustainability of waste management system. In this work, barrel type composting was carried out to identify the proper range of operating conditions for thermophilic composting of domestic solid waste consisting of moisture content, temperature and time. A perforated pipe is inserted in the barrels to make the digestion process aerobic. Then the various environmental parameters of composting are observed during the aerobic digestion processes to assess the parameters. Hence, the effects of operating conditions on thermophilic composting of domestic waste be determined and compared with the information from literature survey. Thereafter, an empirical model of thermophilic composting also be derived by fitting in experimental data. The regression values of different parametric studies are determined using a software SPSS for Windows 10.0.5 and analyzed statistically to fit the empirical model. Furthermore the derived model is confirmed by F-test. The empirical model developed, can be effectively used to predict and assess thc operating conditions for thermophilic composting of domestic waste in a natural environment for designing a composting plant.