The integrated management of sludge and bio-waste by co-digestion and composting were investigated in a life cycle perspective. The working operations of a full-scale digester of an existing wastewater treatment plant for waste-mixed sludge (WMS) stabilization were reproduced using a pilot-scale apparatus. The effect of WMS co-digested with fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) was investigated at different organic loading rates (OLR), from 1.46 kgVS/m3 day to 2.8 kgVS/m3 day. Methane production per unit of digester volume increased from about 140 NL/m3day to a maximum of about 900 NL/m3day when OLR was increased from 1.46 kgVS/m3day to 2.1 kgVS/m3day. The maximum electrical energy producible from the full-scale anaerobic facility was about 3,500,000 kWh/year. The life cycle analysis study highlighted the benefits achievable in terms of avoided resource depletion and ozone depletion potential. The best environmental performances were strictly correlated to the amount of energy recovered.
Environmental Sustainability of the Management of Bio-Waste by Co-Digestion with Sludge in a Life Cycle Perspective
DI MARIA, Francesco;MICALE, CATERINA;CONTINI, STEFANO
2016
Abstract
The integrated management of sludge and bio-waste by co-digestion and composting were investigated in a life cycle perspective. The working operations of a full-scale digester of an existing wastewater treatment plant for waste-mixed sludge (WMS) stabilization were reproduced using a pilot-scale apparatus. The effect of WMS co-digested with fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) was investigated at different organic loading rates (OLR), from 1.46 kgVS/m3 day to 2.8 kgVS/m3 day. Methane production per unit of digester volume increased from about 140 NL/m3day to a maximum of about 900 NL/m3day when OLR was increased from 1.46 kgVS/m3day to 2.1 kgVS/m3day. The maximum electrical energy producible from the full-scale anaerobic facility was about 3,500,000 kWh/year. The life cycle analysis study highlighted the benefits achievable in terms of avoided resource depletion and ozone depletion potential. The best environmental performances were strictly correlated to the amount of energy recovered.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
