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Static aerobic composting of municipal sewage sludge with forced ventilation: Using matured compost as bulking conditioner

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Abstract

Static aerobic composting of municipal sewage sludge with forced ventilation or air ventilation using matured compost as bulking conditioner was investigated. Physical and chemical parameters, e.g., temperature, moisture content, VSS, CODcr, pH, and germination index (GI), were analyzed to characterize the composting process. Fermentation starts quickly in both forced and air ventilation compost heaps and reaches high-temperature stage after 2 d, owing to the bulking function of matured compost. Compared to air ventilation, however, forced ventilation enables the high-temperature stage to last longer for approximately 7 d. The moisture content of both compost bodies decreases from 62% to about 50% as a result of evaporation, and it decreases slightly faster in forced ventilation compost heap after 13 d due to the higher temperature and better ventilation condition. Although no obvious differences of VSS and pH are observed between both compost heaps, the soluble CODCr and GI show differences during the second half period of fermentation. In forced ventilation compost, the soluble CODCr has a small rebound after 13 d, and GI decreases from 46% to 35% but then increases. These results show that in general, the matured compost is a good conditioner and force ventilation with a proper air supply strategy can be more efficient than air ventilation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China

    Jian-xin Ouyang  (欧阳建新) & Zhou Shi  (施周)

  2. Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Water Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Jian-xin Ouyang  (欧阳建新)

  3. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China

    Hua Zhong  (钟华), Wei Liu  (刘卫), Qi Chai  (柴琦) & Xing-zhong Yuan  (袁兴中)

Authors
  1. Jian-xin Ouyang  (欧阳建新)
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  2. Zhou Shi  (施周)
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  3. Hua Zhong  (钟华)
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  4. Wei Liu  (刘卫)
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  5. Qi Chai  (柴琦)
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  6. Xing-zhong Yuan  (袁兴中)
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Correspondence to Zhou Shi  (施周).

Additional information

Foundation item: Projects(50978087, 50908081) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

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Ouyang, Jx., Shi, Z., Zhong, H. et al. Static aerobic composting of municipal sewage sludge with forced ventilation: Using matured compost as bulking conditioner. J. Cent. South Univ. 21, 303–309 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-1941-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-1941-4

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