Composting physics: A degradation process-determining tool for industrial sludge

•Maximum temperature recorded during thermophilic phase is 45 °C.•Moisture content measured as 37% in the end of the composting process.•Moisture content and free air space was influenced by other physical parameters.•Regression analysis performed on bulk density and moisture content showed (R2 = 0....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological engineering 2018-06, Vol.116, p.14-20
Main Authors: Jain, Mayur Shirish, Daga, Mohit, Kalamdhad, Ajay S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air
Air availability
Ash content
Bulk density
Composting
Composts
Computational physics
Correlation coefficient
Correlation coefficients
Density
Developing countries
Free air space
Industrial sludge
Industrial wastes
LDCs
Moisture
Moisture availability
Moisture content
Parameters
Particle density (concentration)
Physical properties
Physics
Pulp
Pulp & paper industry
Pulp & paper mills
Sludge
Statistical analysis
Void ratio
Volatile solids
Water content
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•Maximum temperature recorded during thermophilic phase is 45 °C.•Moisture content measured as 37% in the end of the composting process.•Moisture content and free air space was influenced by other physical parameters.•Regression analysis performed on bulk density and moisture content showed (R2 = 0.98).•Free air space and bulk density was positively correlated. Management of industrial sludge is a big challenge for developing countries. Composting is an economical and viable option to manage and treat an industrial sludge. However, efficient compost production requires nature of materials involved, process understanding and physics behind the process. We investigated the physical parameters during composting of solid pulp and paper mill sludge in 550 L rotary drum composter. Variation in physical parameters such as bulk density, volatile solids, moisture content, free air space, void ratio, ash content and particle density were analyzed over the period of composting. Bulk density was observed increasing, whereas free air space was showed declining trend and observed 52% in end compost. The particle density was observed to be increasing from 610 to 680 kg m−3. End compost was analyzed for nutritional parameters and seen to be increasing over the period of composting. A strong relationship was found between various physical parameters. Pearson’s correlation coefficient matrix was formed between free air space, bulk density, moisture content and particle density.
ISSN:0925-8574
1872-6992
DOI:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.02.015