Processssing of Municipal Solid Waste

(MSW)

[email protected]
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
• segregate right at source – 3 container system
» Biodegradables (wet) Green
» Recyclables (Dry) White Blue
» Domestic hazardous Black
• Biodegradable components for composting / bio-
methanation / bio-processing (preferably decentralized)
• Dry waste  sorting / separation
• Combustible portion goes for Incineration
/Gasification / Pyrolysis / RDF manufacturing
• RDF can be incinerated or co-combusted
• Mention of used Sanitary pads/napkins: to be
wrapped and deposited in DRY waste container.
 TREATMENT
TECHNIQUES FOR MSW
 Managing biodegradable
Waste right at the source

Pot Composting

Bucket Composting

Pipe Composting

4
Green Kerala Mission
 Ripe Compost

Biomethanation Rotary Composting

Managing biodegradable
Waste right at the source 5
Green Kerala Mission
Segregated Waste Collection
Green Kerala Mission

6
• Biological route: for biodegradable portion,
the most acceptable option
• Composting
• Biomethanation
• Chemical Route: not popular for MSW
• Physico-chemical Route: not popular for MSW
• Thermal Route: for combustable portion,
Costliest; but rapid
• Incineration
• Gasification Pyrolysis
Composting of MSW
• Composting: organized method of
producing compost by adopting and
accelerating the natural decomposition
phenomenon
• Compost : an organic manure containing
N,P,K and other micro-nutrients
• Compost should be used with other
chemical fertilizers for optimum results
 Composting Techniques
• Anaerobic Composting

• Aerobic Composting
– Conventional windrow Composting
– Rapid Composting
• Vermi-composting
• Mechanical Composting
 Batch reactor – growth of micro-organisams

Stationary phase
Live micro- Endogenous decay
organisams
(number / mass)
Log growth phase

compost
acclimatization

Time in days (or hours)

• Composting: aerobic or anaerobic
• Aerobic composting:
using aerobic microorganisms,
end products are CO2, NH3, nitrates, etc
Carbon is the source of energy
exothermic reaction and temp. rises
heat released ~490 – 680 kCal/gm-mole of glucose
all pathogens are killed
overall, it takes 2-2.5 months
no foul smell
• Anaerobic composting:
using anaerobic microorganisms
mostly reduction reaction
end products are CH4, CO2, H2S, etc
temperature increase is negligible
heat released ~ 26 kCal/gm-mole of glucose
pathogens are not killed
it takes 4 to 6 months
odour problem
large space requirements
Waste Ripe Compost

Anaerobic Composting: 4-6 Months

Aerobic Windrow Composting: 2-2.5 Months

Vermi-composting: 1-1.5 Months

Rotary Drum Composting: 2-3 Weeks

 For MSW, on municipal scale,
Aerobic Composting is preferred
 Factors affecting Aerobic
Composting
• Microorganisms
• Shredding of refuse
• C/N
• Temperature
• Moisture content
• Windrow details
• Aeration/turning
Micro-organisms
• In the aerobic systems, there are many
organisms actively participating !
bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, others
• In the initial stages: mostly mesophilic form
(temp 30 to 40 oC)
• then: mostly thermophilic bacteria and fungi
(60 to 70 oC)
• In final stage: mesophilic bacteria and fungi
• Bacteria: breaks down mostly protein and
other organic matter
• Fungi and Actinomycetes decompose lignin
and cellulose
• Most of the organisms for composting are
readily available in the MSW itself.
• But there are inoculums and enzymes
claiming to hasten composting. This is
required for sure for agricultural and
industrial wastes
 Shredding of the MSW
• For better bacterial invasion
• Shredding destroy the natural resistance of the
vegetation to microbial invasion
• Provides larger surface area
• Better availability of oxygen
• Uniform and rapid decomposition
• Materials become more homogeneous
• Better fly control/moisture control
• Desirable size for composting: less than 2
inch
• Material size governs (to certain extent) the
size of the finished product
• Compost for flower gardens/lawn: < 1 cm
 C/N
• C/N ratio available is important as all C present
may not be available for degradation
• For rapid composting, initial C/N ratio of the
waste = 30 is ideal. (range 26 to 32)
• If C/N ratio is >>30, add N sources like blood,
sewage sludge, slaughter house waste, fish scrap,
urine, etc.
• If C/N ratio is <<30, add C sources like straw, saw
dust, paper, etc.
• For the ripe compost (finished / matured compost)
product: C/N ratio = 16-20 is the best
• If C/N ratio is >>20, robbing of nitrogen
takes place. There shall be a delay for the
availability of N to the plants. This is
because the excess C tend to use N in the
soil to build cell protoplasm.
• If C/N ratio is <<20, that compost cannot
improve the soil structure considerably.
Temperature
• MSW has good insulation properties; so the
temperature shoots up in aerobic composting.
• It may increase to 65 to 70 oC. But optimum temp
is 50 to 60 oC
• If temp is > 70 oC, it may inactivate the
enzymes/organisms
• All pathogens shall be killed if 50 to 60 oC is
maintained for 5-7 days
• No temperature rise in anaerobic composting
 Moisture Content
• Optimum : 45 to 55 % by weight
• If moisture is considerably less than the optimum,
the physiological needs of the organisms are not
met.
• If moisture is considerably greater than the
optimum, pores may be blocked affecting the
oxygen supply. System may turn anaerobic
• If moisture is < 40%, just add water
• No composting if moisture is < 12 %
 Windrow Dimensions
• For aerobic composting, materials should be
loosely packed.
• If windrow height is too much, self weight causes
some compression and the pore space reduces
• If windrow height is too low, heat loss will be
high and temperature goes below optimum
• Height can be more in cold season/countries
• For MSW, for simple windrow, height shall not
be more than 1.5 to 1.8 m and not less than 1 to
1.2 m , width: 2.4 m to 3.6 m
 Turning / Mixing
• Carried manually or using mechanical
means
• To ensure supply of oxygen / air
• To keep the temp in the optimum range
• Usually carried out once in 5-7 days
 Blending with soil
Sometimes it is required to blend soil while
composting.
to reduce m/c
to absorb NH3 if required
to buffer acidic conditions
to retard fermentation
to improve appearance
to increase ease of handling
Soil blending should be < 10% by weight.
 Finished Product – Ripe Compost

• Colour: black brown or black

• Odour: earthy
• Crumbly in nature
• Weight: about 50 % of the original waste
• It is neither very dry nor watery
• N,P,K content ~ 1% (each)
• C/N ratio < 20
 MSW Compost Plant
• Major expenditure (capital and operational)
is for the SEPERATION of the bio-
degradable from the inerts
• An array of separation techniques may be
required
• Separation may be carried after or before
Composting
• Air Classification • To separate light
materials

• Magnetic Separator • For ferrous metals

• Eddy current separator • Non-ferrous metals

• Screens • Size Separation

• Manual Separation • Materials that can be

hand picked
• Many more compost plants are likely to
come up in future
• This is an established technology for MSW
management.
…….However…..
• There should be a better market for the
compost
• Subsidize the price of compost
• Hike the price of chemical fertilizers
 Compost Plants
MCD Compost plant, Okhla – 150 tons/day 1981

NDMC Compost plant, Okhla – 200 tons/day 1985

MCD Compost plant, Bhalsaw – 500 tons/day 1999 (Excel)

APMC Organo-phos plant, Tikri Khurd – 125 tons/day 2001

Magnetic separator for ferrous metals
Separation Techniques
 Eddy current separator
A rotating drum wrapped by a permanent magnet (High
Performance NdFeB Magnets) produces an alternating magnetic field.

When a metal with conductive properties passes through the magnetic

field, an eddy current will be generated in the metal.

The eddy current itself generates an alternating magnetic field, which is

opposite to the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet
rotor.

It generates a repulsive force (Lorentz force) on the metal, which

separates the metal from the material flow.
Air classification or
Density Separation
Manual composting: carried out in pits

Bangalore method of composting: Anaerobic

method. In the pit alternate layers of green waste
& cowdung/night soil – no mixing – compost ready
after 4-6 months

Indore method of composing: Aerobic method. In

the pit  alternate layers of green waste &
cowdung/night soil – mixing in 4-7 days – compost
ready after 3-5 weeks.
 Vermi-Composting (Rapid Composting)

• Bio-degradable are degraded by the aerobic

bacteria
• Earthworms feed on the organic matter. During
the passage through the worm’s alimentary canal,
it is converted to a simpler humus rich material
due to the action of the enzymatic secretions and
bacteria.
• Earthworms are effectively used for maximizing
the growth of aerobic bacteria
• Time requirement: about 1 to 1.50 months
 Earthworms
• They are invertebrates, Phylum: Annelida
• More than 3000 species
• In India, there are about 500 species
• Only surface dwelling earthworms are
useful a composters
• Deep burrowing type is not preferred
• Most suitable species: Eudrilus Eugeinae
and Eisenia Foetida
 Classification of earthworms
• Based on the burrowing habits and life style
• Epiges:
• Endoges:
• Aneciques:
• Based on their feeding habits
• Detrivores
• Geophages:
• Based in their living conditions
• k selected worms:
• r selected worms:
• Based on the burrowing habits and life style
• Epiges: live on the soil surface, surface litter
dwellers, high cocoon production, short-life cycle,
tolerant to disturbances.

• Endoges: live in the upper 3-5cm soil layer, make

horizontal branching burrows, moderate cocoon
production, medium long life cycle.

• Aneciques: deep burrowing species, dark

pigmentation on their body, construct vertical
tunnels, emerge at the surface at nights.
• Based on their feeding habits
• Detrivores: feed on plant litter, dead roots, plant
debris in the organic rich surface soil
• Geophages: feed deep beneath the surface, ingesting
large quantities of organically rich soil.

• Based on their living conditions

• k selected worms: occur on the areas of conducive
climate, large size, low reproduction rate
• r selected worms: seen in difficult hostile conditions,
small size, high reproduction rate, rapid maturity
Best for vermi-composting: r-selected epiges
and endoges
Life span of earthworms: 15 to 30 months
Gut transit time: 1 hr to 5 hrs (red worms)
Vermicasting: excreta of earthworms (rich in
C, N, P, K, Na, etc along with large microbial
population)
Red worms are r-selected epiges (surface
dwellers). They are good crisis managers
Vermiculture Vs Vermicomposting

Cost of vermi-compost ~ Rs. 10 to 30/ kg

How to separate earthworms from Vermi-

compost ?

Why vermi-composting cannot be carried out

on a large commercial scale ?
 + and – of vermi-composting
• Simple to construct and operate
• No mechanical/electrical parts
• Minimum cost
• High process stability
• Sensitive to temp. (5 oC to 35 oC is the best)
• Large land area requirements (windrow height <60 cm)
• Uncertainty and lack of understanding
• Slow nature ( about 1 to 1.5 months )
• Earthworms cannot tolerate toxicity
• They do not relish salty and citrus food
• They need to be protected from predators
• Needs roof / shelter to protect from direct
sunlight
• Vermi-Composting is a viable and eco-
friendly technology for MSW management
• But mostly feasible for small community or
campus (NOT SUITABLE ON A LARGE
SCALE)
• There should be a good market for vermi-
compost for self-sustainability of a vermi-
compost project
• How to separate the earthworms from the
vermi-compost ??
 COMPOST QUALITY

VERMICOMPOST ORDINARY COMPOST

Nitrogen (%) 2.5 - 3.5 0.5 - 1.5

Phosphorus (%) 0.5 - 2.0 0.5 - 0.9
Potash (%) 1.5 - 2.0 1.2 - 1.4

 B e s i d e s , Ve r m i - c o m p o s t c o n t a i n s b e n e f i c i a l
Microorganisms, Actinomycetes, Micro-nutrients
Enzymes and Hormones in available form
 Mechanical Composting (Vessel
Composting): Rotary Drum Composting
• To decrease the composting time to about 7-
10 days to get green compost
• Another 10 to 15 days maturation to get ripe
compost
• To get very high quality compost (all N, P.
K about 3%)
• Rotary drum composting is a sort of High
rate Composting !
Pilot Scale Reactor at IIT Roorkee