Module 9

Biological Treatment I-Composting

FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF MSWM

Primary collection

Secondary
collection
 Lecture 27
Types of composting-II
In-vessel systems

Bin/tumbler
composting

An in-vessel composting system Source: https://compostingtechnology.com/in-vessel-

composting-systems/
Reactor configurations in in-vessel systems
 Horizontal drum
 Vertical silo
 Open tank

Schematic diagram of plug-flow horizontal reactor Schematic diagram of plug-flow vertical reactor
 Cont..

Schematic diagram of open, horizontal, rectangular tank

Schematic diagram of a composting facility using a

Schematic diagram of a vertical mixed reactor rotating horizontal drum

Silos/Tower reactors
 Another in-vessel technique resembles a bottom-unloading silo. Each day an auger removes composted material from the bottom of
the silo, and a mixture of raw materials is loaded at the top.
 The aeration system blows air up from the base of the silo through the composting materials. The exhaust air can be collected at the
top of the silo for odor treatment. A typical composting time for this method might be 14 days, so one-fourteenth of the silo volume
must be removed and replaced daily.
 After leaving the silo, the compost is cured, often in a second aerated silo. This system minimizes the area needed for composting
because the materials are stacked vertically.
 However, the stacking also presents compaction, temperature control and air flow challenges. Because materials receive little mixing
in the vessel, raw materials must be well mixed when loaded into the silo.

Using the heat of an

external compost
heap for warming
up the inside of a
house
In-vessel drum composting systems
 Rotary drum composting provides agitation, aeration and
mixing of the compost, to produce a consistent and uniform
end product.

 In warm, moist environments with ample amount of

oxygen and organic material available, aerobic microbes
flourish and decompose the waste at a quicker pace.

In-vessel - rotary drum composter

Source: https://dairylane.ca/products/manure- Schematic diagram of a rotary drum composter
management/composter/bedding-master/
 Rotating drums

 This system uses a horizontal rotary drum to mix, aerate and

move the material through the system.

 A drum about 3.35 m in diameter and 36.58 m long has a daily

capacity of approximately 50 tonnes with a residence time of 3
days.

 In the drum, the composting process starts quickly and the highly
degradable, O-demanding materials are decomposed.
In-vessel drum composter
 Further decomposition is accomplished through a second stage Source: https://www.ecoponics.com.sg/different-ways-of-
of composting, usually in windrows or aerated static piles. composting/

 Air is supplied through the discharge end and is incorporated

into the material as it tumbles. (Air moves in the opposite
direction to the material)
 Rotating drums (Cont.)
 The drum can be open or partitioned.

 An open drum moves all the material through

continuously in the same sequence as it enters.

 The speed of rotation of the drum and the inclination of

the axis of rotation determine the residence time.

 In some commercial systems, the composting materials

spend less than one day in the drum.

Rotary drum composter

 Cross-sectional views of the (a) rotating bioreactor and (b) static bioreactor Showing the inlet and
outlet aeration ports and the locations of thermocouple sensors.
Source: Alkoaik FN (2019) Integrating aeration and rotation processes to accelerate composting of agricultural
residues. PLOS ONE 14(7): e0220343.

Time course of compost temperatures measured in the

Time course of air temperatures recorded by the three sensors (Ta1, Ta2, and
rotating and Ta3)
staticfixed at
bioreactors (Tc) and for the ambient
three different locations inside the rotating and static bioreactors
air (Tam) during the composting process
The Ridan® composter is
the simple and economic
solution for the in vessel
composters range of our
company, coming from the
UK.

Ohio University has the largest in-vessel compost facility in Ohio, USA
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/450360031457434443/
 Novi-Comp design - perfecting the best This BCS offers a “plug The blades on the rotating
sizing, insulation and speed of rotation, and play” opportunity to vertical auger slash into the
eliminating corrosion internally test
One variouscan
operator feedstocks organic waste
handle the entire composting material
process thusof
because
Source: https://novid.ca/2019/06/13/the-in-vessel- and amendments, and breaking it into smaller
the automated features
compost-solution/ blending combinations at pieces
Source: https://xactsystemscomposting.com/composter-rotating-drum-
the job site technology/
Centralized vs. decentralized composting

Schematic description of the main systems of

centralized composting
Source: https://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2003/87-
Comparison of the three decentralized composting systems set up
7972-715-8/html/kap01_eng.htm
in the municipality of Allariz
Source: https://www.intechopen.com/books/solid-waste-management-in-
rural-areas/decentralized-composting-of-organic-waste-in-a-european-
rural-region-a-case-study-in-allariz-galicia
Centralized Composting Plant-Boragaon Dumpsite, Guwahati, India
Waste collection in Guwahati
POOR QUALITY
ORGANIC RESIDUE = COMPOST
OKHLA
COMPOST
PLANT
AGRA
COMPOST
PLANT
AMBALA
COMPOST
PLANT
TRICHI
COMPOST
PLANT
CHANDIGARH
COMPOST
PLANT

Source: indianexpress.com
DECTRALIZED COMPOSTING: ROTARY DRUM
Batch mode Batch operation: Pilot-scale rotary drum composter
Organic Waste
0.3 mm metal sheet Metal chain

Nylon Rollers

Dia = 0.9 m Length = 1.1 m

Waste Segregation & Shredding

Compost
Rotary Drum
Composter
SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES OF ROTARY DRUM COMPOSTER

Short composting period

Temperature reaches up to 65-70oC

Less Space requirement

ROTARY No Odor problem

DRUM
Ease in Operation

Yield uniform marketable compost

Environment Friendly

No Leaching or Spillage
LIMITATIONS
• Capital cost
• Power requirement (Negligible)
Pilot scale reactor

Feeding Inside view

Successful trials on various waste at Solid Waste Laboratory, IIT Guwahati by Waste
Management Research Group (WMRG)

 Vegetable (Food) waste

Vegetable waste
 Water hyacinth

 Hydrilla verticillata

 Sewage sludge

 Pulp and paper mill waste

 Phumdi from Loktak lake Manipur

 Terrestrial weeds

Temperature profile of vegetable waste compost

 Water hyacinth Hydrilla verticillata

Temperature profile of Water hyacinth compost Temperature profile of Hydrilla verticillata compost
 Sewage sludge Pulp and paper mill sludge

Temperature profile of sewage sludge compost Temperature profile of pulp and paper mill sludge compost
 Mikania
Phumdi biomass micrantha Kunth- an
from Loktak lake, invasive terrestrial
Manipur, India weed

Temperature profile of Phumdi biomass compost Temperature profile of Mikania micrantha Kunth
compost
Rotary drum composter installed in Solid Waste Laboratory
(Waste Management Research Group), IIT Guwahati, India

Rotary drum composter (inside view)

Rotary drum composter (side view)
Cont..

Rotary drum composter (front view) Rotary drum composter (rear view)
Cont..

Feeding into drum

Composting shed
Cont..

Waste within drum Water vapors after turning

Cont..
Cont..
Cont..
 Temperature profile
Cont..
 Maintained temperature
Cont..
 High rate decomposition
Cont..
 Total organic carbon (TOC)
Cont..
 Total nitrogen (TN)
Cont..
 Carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio
Cont..
 Solvita maturation index
 TRADITIONAL COMPOSTING PROCESS
(Temperature pattern)

80
Temperature (oC) Composting period: 45-190 days
70
60
50
40 Active stabilization

30 Growth
10-25
20
days 30-150
7-15 days Maturation
10
days
Mesophilic Thermophilic Mesophilic
Time
 ROTARY DRUM COMPOSTING PROCESS
(Temperature pattern)

80 Composting period: 12-20 days

Temperature (oC)
70
60
Active stabilization
50
40
30
4-5 Cooling
Maturation
days
20 2-3
days 7-15
10 days

Thermophilic Mesophilic
Time
THANK YOU