Abstract
Biogas plants processing municipal waste on the one hand represent a trend in waste management, and on the other hand constitute an alternative energy source. Next to their unquestionable benefits, due to the character of the provided activity, they can be a potential source of odours. Municipal waste, largely containing biodegradable fractions, is often subject to decomposition processes in uncontrolled conditions still before it is supplied to the mechanical biological treatment plant. One of the effects of the processes, both controlled and uncontrolled conditions, is emission of odorants. Their spread depends on the applied technologies and adherence to the technological regime during operation. One of the factors determining the types and concentrations of emitted odorants are also meteorological conditions in which waste is stored and processed. The paper presents results of two series of pilot research conducted at four plants, involving a preliminary analysis of the effect of meteorological conditions on the emission of odorants at biogas plants processing municipal waste.
Highlights
The municipal solid waste has the potential for recovery of materials and energy and can be a renewable source
This paper presents results of pilot research conducted at four biogas plants processing municipal waste
It shows the relations between odour intensity and concentration and the occurring meteorological conditions which can be presented at four key points: 1. At most of analysed biogas plants, significant correlations were observed between odour concentration and air temperature – higher air temperature was accompanied by bigger odour concentrations
Summary
The municipal solid waste has the potential for recovery of materials and energy and can be a renewable source. Due to the increase in the number of new mechanical biological treatment plants (MBT) in Europe (which are an indispensable part of the municipal infrastructure [4, 5]), the qualitative characteristics of odour emissions from MBT plants is becoming a tool necessary for proper planning of new installations, as well as protection of health of both their operating employees and residents of the surrounding areas [6, 7]. Such factors contributed to the publication of scientific papers presenting measurements and chemical characteristics of emissions from MBT plants [7–9]. Relations between all the factors, are still not well-known
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